wheeze

verb \ ˈhwēz , ˈwēz \

Definition of wheeze

wheezed; wheezing

intransitive verb

1 :to breathe with difficulty usually with a whistling sound

2 :to make a sound resembling that of wheezing

the bellows wheezed

See wheeze defined for English-language learners

See wheeze defined for kids

Examples of wheeze in a Sentence

He was up all night hacking and wheezing.
The car's motor wheezed and stalled.

Recent Examples of wheeze from the Web

Valerian wheezes to a close and then gives us a sloppy, oafish grin, one that, much like an ugly dog, both endears and repulses.

— jillian selzer, Cosmopolitan, "The 12 Meanest Things Critics Are Saying About Valerian," 24 July 2017
The investment has steadily driven down the number of days with unhealthy air — but on hot, windless days, a brown haze still hangs overhead, sending wheezing people with tight chests to emergency rooms and hundreds each year to an early grave.

— scott smith, The Seattle Times, "California farm region plagued by dirty air looks to Trump," 20 July 2017
Valerian wheezes to a close and then gives us a sloppy, oafish grin, one that, much like an ugly dog, both endears and repulses.

— richard lawson, vanityfair.com, "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets Is an Endearing, Eye-Popping Mess," 18 July 2017
Flight attendants, pilots complained of rashes, wheezingClothing maker cites ‘

— michael sasso, Bloomberg.com, "American Airlines Drops Uniform Supplier Amid Health Fears," 21 June 2017
Hit with all kinds of injuries - even one player got shingles - FSU wheezed and gasped to find momentum.

— ron higgins, NOLA.com, "Florida State's 15-time CWS bridesmaid Mike Martin wants a national title ring on his finger," 16 June 2017
There are warehouses nearby, and 18-wheelers wheeze through the neighborhood, raising dust and intimidating the rare pedestrian.

— alexander nazaryan, Newsweek, "The 'Artwashing' of America: The Battle for the Soul of Los Angeles Against Gentrification," 21 May 2017
HUMANKIND TALLAHASSEE, FL -- Her voice wheezes, her breathing labors.

— nada hassanein, USA TODAY, "Dying woman hands out candy bars with special message," 27 Apr. 2017
HUMANKIND TALLAHASSEE, FL -- Her voice wheezes, her breathing labors.

— nada hassanein, USA TODAY, "Dying woman hands out candy bars with special message," 27 Apr. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of wheeze

Middle English whesen, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse hvæsa to hiss; akin to Old English hwǣst action of blowing, Sanskrit śvasiti he blows, snorts

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

wheeze Synonyms

Synonyms

blow, heave, hyperventilate, pant, puff, gasp

Related Words

choke, gag, gulp, huff; asphyxiate, smother, stifle, strangle; snore, snuffle; exhale, expire

wheeze

noun

Definition of wheeze

1 :a sound of wheezing

2 a :an often repeated and widely known joke used especially by entertainers

b :a trite saying or proverb

See wheeze defined for English-language learners

Examples of wheeze in a Sentence

Between gasps and wheezes, he tried to explain what had happened.
the wheeze of an engine
We can count on him for a good wheeze.

Recent Examples of wheeze from the Web

The new performances up the intensity, which is only further heightened by the nasty rasp and sinister wheeze that age has visited upon Lunch’s voice.

— peter margasak, Chicago Reader, "Postpunk chanteuse Lydia Lunch sounds more vital than ever fronting the career-spanning Retrovirus," 13 July 2017
The coughs to clear my throat became involuntary and more violent, with the whistling rattle of a wheeze.

— vann r. newkirk ii, The Atlantic, "How to Beat Asthma," 5 July 2017
Or is this all just a teenage wheeze to escape boredom?

— tony lacy-thompson, The Mercury News, "Eight short plays add up to a fine time at the theater," 18 May 2017
Perhaps the best known of these was the John Birch Society, founded in 1958 as a dying wheeze of McCarthyism.

— graeme wood, The Atlantic, "His Kampf," 14 May 2017

First Known Use of wheeze

1800

WHEEZE Defined for English Language Learners

wheeze

verb

Definition of wheeze for English Language Learners

: to breathe loudly and with difficulty
: to make a sound like a person who is breathing with difficulty

wheeze

noun

Definition of wheeze for English Language Learners

: the sound made by a person who is having difficulty breathing or a similar sound : the sound of wheezing
: a clever idea or joke

WHEEZE Defined for Kids

wheeze

verb \ ˈhwēz , ˈwēz \

Definition of wheeze for Students

wheezed; wheezing

1 :to breathe with difficulty and usually with a whistling sound

2 :to make a whistling sound like someone having difficulty breathing

wheeze

noun

Definition of wheeze for Students

:a whistling sound like that made by someone having difficulty breathing

Medical Dictionary

wheeze

intransitive verb \ ˈhwēz , ˈwēz \

medical Definition of wheeze

wheezed; wheezing

:to breathe with difficulty usually with a whistling sound

wheeze

noun

medical Definition of wheeze

:a sibilant whistling sound caused by difficult or obstructed respiration

Learn More about wheeze

See words that rhyme with wheeze Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for wheeze Spanish Central: Translation of wheeze Nglish: Translation of wheeze for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of wheeze for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wheeze

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wheeze

Definition of wheeze

Examples of wheeze in a Sentence

Recent Examples of wheeze from the Web

First Known Use of wheeze

WHEEZE Defined for English Language Learners

wheeze

Definition of wheeze for English Language Learners

wheeze

Definition of wheeze for English Language Learners

WHEEZE Defined for Kids

wheeze

Definition of wheeze for Students

wheeze

Definition of wheeze for Students

Medical Dictionary

wheeze

medical Definition of wheeze

wheeze

medical Definition of wheeze

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