sigh

verb \ ˈsī \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

Definition of sigh

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

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
During the first sighing unison phrase of the prelude, the strings played with hushed yet penetrating tone, rising with a touch of hesitation and slowly swelling in sound and radiance, until the upper strings crested into delicate, lacy arpeggios.

— anthony tommasini, New York Times, "Review: A Conductor Delivers a Magnificent ‘Parsifal’ at the Met," 6 Feb. 2018
But this is not an opera written by an Italian composer to be performed at La Scala, classical strings sighing in the background.

— scott timberg, latimes.com, "Mariachi opera sings an immigrant's tale of love and loss, in potent political times," 14 Feb. 2018
But a lot of others — frequent fliers, allergy sufferers and especially flight attendants — sighed with relief.

— glenn garvin, miamiherald, "A duck with a window seat? How ‘emotional support’ critters are getting on your flight | Miami Herald," 21 Feb. 2018
Many simply sighed when asked about the AR-15 first made infamous in the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012.

— Bloomberg.com, "Inside a Florida Gun Show, Days After the Parkland Shooting," 21 Feb. 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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

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

On Tuesday, many P&G shareholders breathed a sigh of relief that ‘activist investor’ Nelson Peltz was not elected onto P&G’s Executive Board.

— nathan bachrach, Cincinnati.com, "Simply Money: What’s the proxy win mean for P&G stock?," 11 Oct. 2017
As Sunday’s German election approaches, sighs of relief can be heard across Europe.

— walter russell mead, WSJ, "Winning Again Is Angela Merkel’s Easiest Task," 18 Sep. 2017
Cue media fervor, because that's a huge event (sigh).

— rachel nussbaum, Glamour, "This Kate Middleton Hair Conspiracy Actually Checks Out," 6 Sep. 2017
Everyone breathes a sigh of relief: the laser works.

— daniel a. gross, Smithsonian, "Why We Need To Start Listening To Insects," 25 Apr. 2017
Steve Colvin sank into his graying couch and let out a deep, guttural sigh.

— allie gross, Detroit Free Press, "Homeowner to homeless: The brutal reality of the Detroit foreclosure auction," 3 Nov. 2017
Doc on finally a sigh of relief after a month of football for the Bengals.

— paul dehner jr., Cincinnati.com, "Bengals Walkthru: Hue Jackson in a bind," 2 Oct. 2017
Jennifer Lopez can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

— alexia fernandez, PEOPLE.com, "Jennifer Lopez Has Finally Located Her Family in Puerto Rico: ‘Now the Rebuilding Begins’," 28 Sep. 2017
There was never a sigh of relief — there was tempered optimism, very hopeful excitement, but very measured.

— The Cut, "The Mom Who Didn’t Expect Using a Known Sperm Donor to Be So Hard," 21 Sep. 2017

First Known Use of sigh

14th century

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