as in pause
a momentary halt in an activity
took a breather from the seemingly endless task of sorting through years of stuff stored in the attic
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Recent Examples of breather
Afterwards, take a welcome breather at nearby Hidden Gem Coffee, filled with mismatched, upcycled furniture (including car parts transformed into chairs).
—
Tamara Hinson, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Mar. 2026
Kornet gets a breather thanks to Plumlee The Spurs signed journeyman Mason Plumlee a few weeks ago for the remainder of the season to add depth at the center position.
—Tom Orsborn, San Antonio Express-News, 26 Mar. 2026
Mouth breathers tend to carry their head forward to open the airway, a subtle shift that can become its own habitual pattern.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
Five minutes of straight planking probably sounds intense, but this routine incorporates a different variation every 30 seconds, which lessens the intimidation factor and also gives certain muscles a breather while others take on more work.
—Jenny McCoy, Outside, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for breather
Tamara Hinson, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Mar. 2026
Kornet gets a breather thanks to Plumlee The Spurs signed journeyman Mason Plumlee a few weeks ago for the remainder of the season to add depth at the center position.
—Tom Orsborn, San Antonio Express-News, 26 Mar. 2026
Mouth breathers tend to carry their head forward to open the airway, a subtle shift that can become its own habitual pattern.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
Five minutes of straight planking probably sounds intense, but this routine incorporates a different variation every 30 seconds, which lessens the intimidation factor and also gives certain muscles a breather while others take on more work.
—Jenny McCoy, Outside, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for breather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breather
Noun
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Billy Randolph had shaped them and how his death had altered their lives, responses came after long pauses and were choked with grief.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated March 27,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Mar. 2026
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But no pause was announced in the overall military campaign.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Signs of growing confidence began to emerge late last year as exit values picked up and cash distribution for investors started flowing again, encouraging private equity to resume preparations to launch new funds after a multiyear lull in activity.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
27 Mar. 2026
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Loose ends and compelling payoffs await after a subdued and slow-ish first frame that struggles with a balance between dark brooding and uneven lull.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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To get back to, the surface and get a breath before the next one comes.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
25 Mar. 2026
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Why tire himself out, become completely exhausted and out of breath, crumple up the bedsheets that were changed just a few days ago, get someone else’s germs all over himself, and then reek of sweat afterward?—
Agnieszka Szpila,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Her youngest son Oliver, now 2, was born with a hole in his heart and needed surgery, sending her on a six-month social media break.—
David Oliver,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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That, more than anything else, is the lesson of this international break.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Breather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breather. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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