breather

noun

ˈbrē-t͟hər How to pronounce breather (audio)
Definition of breathernext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of breather Still, Zelensky has floated the idea that such an election could take place only if Ukraine could be given a breather to safely send voters to the ballot box. — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2026 After recovering from a health crisis and reaping millions from Rapportive’s sale to LinkedIn, Vohra had all the reason to take a breather from business. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026 Cantina del Diablo had the calmest vibe, allowing guests to take a breather while still enjoying the festival. — Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026 This is a welcome convenience on hot days or for people with back or leg issues that may need the occasional breather. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for breather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breather
  1. pause
  2. lull
  3. breath
  4. break
Noun
  • Leave a little room for the exchange instead of treating every pause as a delay.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Own what went wrong, eliminate unnecessary meetings, pause distractions and focus on what matters.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of pause
Noun
  • Wild Horse Nine lives or dies by the Mutt & Jeff chemistry of its leads, both of whom keep the proceedings propped up in between plot points and temporary pacing lulls.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Capcom was in a similar lull after 2012’s disappointing Resident Evil 6, a bloated and confusing entry that made players fear the end of the series.
    — Daryl Baxter, Space.com, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of lull
Noun
  • In a trial of 36 adults with above-normal systolic pressure, those who took 30 resisted breaths a day, six days a week, had a roughly 9 mm Hg drop in resting systolic pressure after six weeks.
    — MD Published, Verywell Health, 10 Nov. 2026
  • The human characters were about to be subjected to the concussive explosion of Godzilla’s fiery breath—the actors had to play out the effects of the blast, which would later be added digitally, along with Godzilla himself.
    — Matt Alt, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of breath
Noun
  • Phillips caught a bad break when her approach to the green hit a tree branch on its upward flight and dropped 20 yards short of the green.
    — Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Erin Daly said the anxiety was already building at the start of summer break.
    — Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of break

Browse Nearby Words

breathe (out)
breather
breathers
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Breather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breather. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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