as in to breathe
to inhale and exhale air
though unconscious, the patient is still respiring
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Recent Examples of respire
Vegetables that respire at a higher rate keep better in the refrigerator crisper, where food retains more moisture than in the open space of the main refrigerator compartment, which can draw moisture out of produce.
—
Anne-Marie Bonneau, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2021
Consider leafy vegetables, which immediately start to respire faster once they are cut.
—Nicola Temple, WSJ, 4 May 2018
The gases are then respired out of the lungs: literal fart breath.
—Brian Resnick, Vox, 3 Apr. 2018
In the 18th century and earlier, most baking was dictated by the delicate whims of respiring yeast.
—Ben Panko, Smithsonian, 21 June 2017
This makes sense, since roots are respiring organs.
—Bonnie Blodgett, Twin Cities, 14 Jan. 2017
In the soil around their roots, billions of fungi and soil bacteria respire as well.
—Jordan Fisher Smith, Discover Magazine, 20 Dec. 2010
Anne-Marie Bonneau, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2021
Consider leafy vegetables, which immediately start to respire faster once they are cut.
—Nicola Temple, WSJ, 4 May 2018
The gases are then respired out of the lungs: literal fart breath.
—Brian Resnick, Vox, 3 Apr. 2018
In the 18th century and earlier, most baking was dictated by the delicate whims of respiring yeast.
—Ben Panko, Smithsonian, 21 June 2017
This makes sense, since roots are respiring organs.
—Bonnie Blodgett, Twin Cities, 14 Jan. 2017
In the soil around their roots, billions of fungi and soil bacteria respire as well.
—Jordan Fisher Smith, Discover Magazine, 20 Dec. 2010
Recent Examples of Synonyms for respire
breathe
Verb
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According to the Mayo Clinic, because the disease affects the nerve cells in the brain and spine that control muscle movement, patients slowly lose their ability to speak, eat, walk, and breathe independently.—
Vanessa Etienne,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
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When other thoughts pop into your head, work on bringing your mind back to breathing.—
Ann Pietrangelo,
Verywell Health,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Respire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/respire. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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