Synonyms of breathe

breathe 1 of 2

verb (1)

ˈbrēt͟h 

1

as in to respire

to inhale and exhale air

sometimes it gets so hot in here that it's hard to even breathe

Synonyms & Similar Words

• respire
• snore
• inspire
• gasp
• blow (out)
• puff
• wheeze
• sniff
• pant
• huff
• draw
• snort
• expire
• yawn
• suspire
• inbreathe
• snuff
• snuffle
• whiff

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• choke
• suffocate
• smother
• gag
• asphyxiate
• throttle
• stifle
• strangle
• garrote

2

as in to live

to have life

as long as I breathe, you will have a place to stay

Synonyms & Similar Words

• live
• be
• exist
• rule
• survive
• continue
• subsist
• persist
• flourish
• endure
• keep (on)
• kick
• last
• abide
• hold on
• run on
• thrive
• lead
• move
• prosper
• hold up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• die
• perish
• depart
• disappear
• expire
• pass away
• succumb
• evaporate
• stop
• vanish
• cease
• die (down)
• quit
• end
• discontinue
• subside
• abate
• moderate
• desist
• ebb
• let up
• wane

breathe (out)

2 of 2

verb (2)

as in to blow (out)

to let or force out of the lungs

leaned back in his chair and breathed out the smoke from his pipe

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blow (out)
• exhale
• expel
• expire
• expectorate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• inspire
• inhale
• inbreathe

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of breathe

Verb

The ancient Greeks recognized that cetaceans breathe air, give birth to live young, produce milk, and have hair—all features of mammals. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026

Humans can breathe them in via particles in the air or ingest them through food and water. —Erika Edwards, NBC news, 2 Apr. 2026

Honda died four days later from complications tied to her burns and breathing in smoke. —Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026

In a statement to TMZ, FDNY responded to the theater for a person who was having trouble breathing. —Jack Dunn, Variety, 1 Apr. 2026

Phrases Containing breathe

• breathe (out)