with bated breath

phrase

: in a nervous and excited state anticipating what will happen
They waited for the answer on their application with bated breath.

Examples of with bated breath in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The Dodgers will now wait with bated breath until Ohtani’s eligibility date. — Katie Woo, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 As the world waits with bated breath for official photographs from Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s July 3 wedding—specifically of Swift’s custom Dior wedding dress—Jason Kelce is amazed that no photos have leaked from the big day. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 31 July 2026 Inside look at the Three Lions As for England, a nation awaits with bated breath. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 15 July 2026 The crowd atop the Hermosa Beach Pier watched with bated breath as a local fisherman, stripped down to his underwear and armed with only a pair of scissors, waded into the water in an attempt to free a juvenile great white shark. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for with bated breath

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Cite this Entry

“With bated breath.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/with%20bated%20breath. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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