sigh

verb \ ˈsī \

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

Examples: sigh in a Sentence

Definition of sigh

sighed; sighing; sighs

intransitive verb

1 : to take a deep audible breath (as in weariness or relief)

2 : to make a sound like sighing

wind sighing in the branches

3 : grieve, yearn

sighing for days gone by

transitive verb

1 : to express by sighs

2 archaic : to utter sighs over : mourn

—

sigher

play \ˈsī(-ə)r\ noun

See sigh defined for English-language learners

See sigh defined for kids

Examples of sigh in a Sentence

He sighed with relief when he saw that he passed the test.
The wind sighed through the trees.
“I may never see my old home again,” she sighed.

Recent Examples of sigh from the Web

One timejump-20-minutes-into-this-film later, Han sighs his way through some grim, Full Metal Jacket-y battlefields before noticing potential fellow smugglers.

— nathan mattise, Ars Technica, "Solo film review: Best when it embraces its favorite action-movie urges," 24 May 2018
Judge Salvador Vasquez denied the request for the mistrial, and Giro’s friends and family sighed and wiped away tears of relief at the decision.

— becky jacobs, Post-Tribune, "'She was in there the whole time': Witnesses say they saw defendant exit Lake Station home where woman's body found," 27 Apr. 2018
The caller sighed, then said something that struck Schell as odd.

— christopher solomon, Outside Online, "The Boy Who Lived on Edges," 22 Mar. 2018
Someone talks during the movie in the theater, and sighs permeate as everyone waits for someone else to confront the offender.

— alex horton, Houston Chronicle, "A crying toddler, a flying tub of popcorn, and a 'Last Jedi' screening that led to arrests," 4 Mar. 2018
At the mention of one 90-degree day, first-timers sighed and gazed into the dark overcast skies.

— mike kotsopoulos, BostonGlobe.com, "Here’s a runner’s perspective on the Boston Marathon," 16 Apr. 2018
Issy Cless, intake and adoption coordinator at the MSPCA’s Nevins Farm, sighed.

— laura elyse king, BostonGlobe.com, "Solving riddles means pigging out," 4 Apr. 2018
That was the sound of us sighing over these perfect cinnamon rolls.

— olivia harrison, refinery29.com, "Joanna & Chip Gaines' New Breakfast Restaurant Is Officially Open For Business," 27 Mar. 2018
Surveying the books, notebooks, and binders of research materials that fill the shelves of his home office, Walsh sighs.

— mark shanahan, BostonGlobe.com, "An ‘Astral Weeks’ origin story, told 50 years after Van Morrison fled to Boston," 1 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sigh.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of sigh

Middle English sihen, alteration of sichen, from Old English sīcan; akin to Middle Dutch versiken to sigh

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First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

sigh

noun

Definition of sigh

1 : an often involuntary act of sighing especially when expressing an emotion or feeling (such as weariness or relief)

2 : the sound of gently moving or escaping air

sighs of the summer breeze

Recent Examples of sigh from the Web

The theme park currently is between festivals, so the marketplaces/outdoor kitchens are mostly out of sigh.

— dewayne bevil, OrlandoSentinel.com, "First (and second) look: 'Guardians of the Galaxy — Awesome Mix Live' at Epcot," 11 June 2018
Well, instead of hopping on the back of Lou’s hog, Debbie was, sigh, visiting her brother—the now deceased Danny Ocean (George Clooney)—at his gravesite.

— laura bradley, HWD, "Ocean’s 8: The Agony and Ecstasy of All That Unresolved Sexual Tension," 8 June 2018
Perhaps the heat wave that's rolled over the city recently is really just a result of a collective sigh of relief now that the school year is coming to a close.

— fernando alfonso iii, Houston Chronicle, "Memes sum up how everyone feels about the school year ending," 31 May 2018
Trump's plan notably didn’t propose allowing the federal government to negotiate lower Medicare drug prices directly with insurers, an omission Democrats largely focused on but which received a big sigh of relief from the the drug industry.

— Washington Post, "The Health 202: Health industry appears unfazed by Trump's drug pricing speech," 14 May 2018
So, the Stronach Group, which owns Pimlico and runs the Preakness, breathed a big sigh of relief when Mendelssohn didn’t win.

— john cherwa, latimes.com, "Racing! Picking up the pieces after the Kentucky Derby," 7 May 2018
Some of Cosby's other accusers in the packed courtroom let out audible sighs of relief; a few began to loudly sob and were removed.

— author: jeremy roebuck, laura mccrystal, Anchorage Daily News, "Comedian Bill Cosby convicted of sexual assault in retrial," 26 Apr. 2018
The Internet breathed a small sigh of relief, happy that someone still has the ability to get Kanye on the phone and tell him to chill, at least with the Trump stuff.

— bridget read, Vogue, "Kim Kardashian and Kanye West Engage Trump Via Tweetstorm," 25 Apr. 2018
How to Thirst Trap on Instagram With Cardi B This album can — and, deep sigh, will — launch 1,000 think pieces and takes; Cardi herself has launched 1,001.

— allison p. davis, The Cut, "Cardi B’s Album Is Here! And It’s Just As Great As We Hoped," 6 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of sigh

14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

SIGH Defined for English Language Learners

sigh

verb

Definition of sigh for English Language Learners

: to take in and let out a long, loud breath in a way that shows you are bored, disappointed, relieved, etc.
: to make a sound like sighing
: to say (something) with a sigh