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

• 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

Bells of Kabul marked Farahani’s first shoot in nine months following a breather after Julia Ducournau’s Cannes 2025 Palme d’Or contender Alpha, taking inspiration from the early days of the AIDS pandemic. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025

Valdez and Morales kept the running game strong when Lizaola needed a breather. —Breven Honda, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025

The final segment, reserved for special teams, gave much of the roster a breather, helmets off and tucked in hands, but then a 35-year-old tight end trotted to an empty neighboring field. —Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2025

Likewise, if two infants are laid side-by-side, the stronger breather will entrain the breathing of the weaker. —Ginny Whitelaw, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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