breather

noun

breath·​er ˈbrē-t͟hər 

1

: one that breathes

2

: a break in activity for rest or relief

3

: a small vent in an otherwise airtight enclosure

Synonyms of breather

• pause
• lull
• breath
• break

Examples of breather in a Sentence

He decided to give them a breather.

took a breather from the seemingly endless task of sorting through years of stuff stored in the attic

Recent Examples on the Web

Technology has held up far better than the rest of the market lately, with the Nasdaq-100 barely budging during last week’s 628-point Dow selloff, even as the broader software group takes a breather after a strong summer run. — Tony Zhang, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026

Take a breather by the beach, where days are made for lingering on golden sands, discovering hidden coves, and relaxing to the tune of the rolling Mediterranean tide. — Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026

The bond market is taking a breather after a run up in yields to start the week. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026

Unless an external rescue arrives via trade or free agency, the Niners’ safety depth chart is essentially a wish and a prayer that the starters never need to grab a breather. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 28 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing breather

• mouth breather

Rhymes for breather

• either
• neither

Kids Definition

breather

noun

breath·​er ˈbrē-t͟hər 

1

: one that breathes

2

: a pause for rest : break

Medical Definition

breather

noun

breath·​er ˈbrē-t͟hər 

: one that breathes usually in a specified way see mouth breather