air

1 of 2

noun

ˈer

often attributive

Synonyms of air next

: the mixture of invisible odorless tasteless gases (such as nitrogen and oxygen) that surrounds the earth

also : the equivalent mix of gases on another planet

… the thin, frigid air of Mars. —

Stefano S. Coledan

: a light breeze

archaic : breath

a(1)

: aircraft

traveling by air

(2)

: aviation

air safety

air rights

(3)

: air force

air headquarters

b(1)

: the medium of transmission of radio waves

also : radio, television

went on the air

(2)

: airtime

: outward appearance of a thing

an air of luxury

: a surrounding or pervading influence : atmosphere

an air of mystery

: the look, appearance, or bearing of a person especially as expressive of some personal quality or emotion : demeanor

an air of dignity

: an artificial or affected manner

put on airs

: nothingness

—usually used in the phrases into thin air and out of thin air

vanished/disappeared into thin air… nor did any of them seem to have noticed that six people had just melted into thin air in front of them.—

J. K. Rowling… jobs can't just be created out of thin air.—

The Wall Street Journal

: empty space

old-fashioned : a sudden severance of relations

She gave me the air.

[probably translation of Italian aria]

: tune, melody

a lilting air

: the chief voice part or melody in choral music

Elizabethan and Jacobean music : an accompanied song or melody in usually strophic form

: an air-conditioning system

a house with central air

: public utterance

He gave air to his opinion.

: a football offense utilizing primarily the forward pass

Trailing by 20 points, the team took to the air.

: the height achieved in performing an aerial maneuver

a snowboarder catching big air

also : the maneuver itself

: compressed air

airless

ˈer-ləs

adjective

airlessness noun

air

2 of 2

verb

aired; airing; airs

transitive verb

: to expose to the air for drying, purifying, or refreshing : ventilate

—often used with out

He opened the windows to air out the room.

: to expose to public view or bring to public notice

aired their complaints

: to transmit by radio or television

air a program

intransitive verb

: to become exposed to the open air

The blankets were left outside to air.

: to become broadcast

a program that airs daily

Phrases

in the air

: being felt or expressed by many people : in wide circulation

There was a sense of anticipation in the air.

up in the air

: not yet settled

a question that's still up in the air

Choose the Right Synonym for air

Noun

pose, air, airs, affectation, mannerism mean an adopted way of speaking or behaving.

pose implies an attitude deliberately assumed in order to impress others.

her shyness was just a pose

air may suggest natural acquirement through environment or way of life.

a traveler's sophisticated air

airs always implies artificiality and pretentiousness.

snobbish airs

affectation applies to a trick of speech or behavior that strikes the observer as insincere.

the posh accent is an affectation

mannerism applies to an acquired eccentricity that has become a habit.

gesturing with a cigarette was her most noticeable mannerism

Verb

express, vent, utter, voice, broach, air mean to make known what one thinks or feels.

express suggests an impulse to reveal in words, gestures, actions, or what one creates or produces.

expressed her feelings in music

vent stresses a strong inner compulsion to express especially in words.

a tirade venting his frustration

utter implies the use of the voice not necessarily in articulate speech.

utter a groan

voice does not necessarily imply vocal utterance but does imply expression or formulation in words.

an editorial voicing their concerns

broach adds the implication of disclosing for the first time something long thought over or reserved for a suitable occasion.

broached the subject of a divorce

air implies an exposing or parading of one's views often in order to gain relief or sympathy or attention.

publicly airing their differences

Example Sentences

Noun These laws are meant to produce cleaner air. A delicious smell filled the air. I like to dine outdoors in the open air. He can't breathe! Everybody move back and give him some air! High in the mountains the air is thin and it can be hard to breathe. He pumped air into the bicycle tire. The city is wonderful seen from the air. the fish of the sea and the birds of the air The balloon rose up into the air and then floated through the air. There has been heavy fighting on the ground and in the air. Verb The blankets were left outside to air. She opened the windows to air the room. The company had a meeting so that employees could air their complaints. The interview will be aired tomorrow. The interview will air tomorrow. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

On Thursday, the governor of the Russian region of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, claimed that the Ukrainian military was shelling areas inside Belgorod and that Russian air defense had been active in a district of Belgorod, which borders Ukraine. —

Tom Soufi Burridge, ABC News, 25 May 2023 Binnig, who is 32 and has worked at the center for four years, has an air of unassuming confidence and a broad smile. —

Maggie Jones, New York Times, 17 May 2023 And advocates say there’s so much more to be done to make air travel accessible to everyone, too. —

Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 17 May 2023 Ozone levels are low; air quality is good for everyone. —

Lana Ferguson, Dallas News, 17 May 2023 The Real Housewives of Atlanta airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo. —

Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 17 May 2023 In a scene from the episode that is set to air May 17 on Bravo, Madix tells a group of friends, including her co-stars Katie Maloney and Scheana Shay, about finding out after accompanying Sandoval to a party at his bar TomTom that he and Madix’s close friend Leviss had been romantically involved. —

Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 May 2023 Trees actually send out more pollen early in the morning, but at night as cool air sinks concentrations rise near the ground. —

Daniel Kool, BostonGlobe.com, 16 May 2023 Houston starter Cristian Javier smiled broadly and raised both arms in the air before tipping his cap after witnessing the grab. —

Kristie Rieken, Chron, 16 May 2023

Verb

Monday, June 5: The rest of the fourth round will air on the Tennis Channel. —

Town & Country, 28 May 2023 This week’s finale will air in the midst of a Writers Guild of America strike meant to force GoJo-like streaming giants to pay their writers a living wage and not replace them with robots. —

Phillip Maciak, The New Republic, 26 May 2023 The show will air live with 3-hour episodes every Friday and Saturday on Reelz this season, providing more high-stakes drama and heart-racing situations than ever before. —

oregonlive, 26 May 2023 This Emmy-winning juggernaut will air its series finale on Friday over on Prime Video. —

Vulture, 26 May 2023 Vanderpump Rules airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo and streams on Peacock the next day. —

Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 25 May 2023 His company delivered a popular series to one of the public service broadcasters (PSBs) last year which, due to scheduling, likely won’t air until this summer. —

K.j. Yossman, Variety, 25 May 2023 The call angered many fans, who took to social media to air their grievances. —

Caitlin O'kane, CBS News, 24 May 2023 Additionally, on June 10, the Hall of Fame will feature a screening of the 1997 documentary Fan Fair Phenomenon, which aired on The Nashville Network. —

Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 24 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'air.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin aer, from Greek aēr air

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of air was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Phrases Containing air

Cite this Entry

Style

“Air.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/air. Accessed 31 May. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

air

1 of 2 noun

ˈa(ə)r

ˈe(ə)r

: the invisible mixture of odorless tasteless gases (as nitrogen and oxygen) that surrounds the earth

: a light breeze

: the state of being empty or nothing

—usually used in the phrase into thin air

vanished into thin air

: tune entry 1 sense 1, melody

: outward appearance

an air of mystery

plural : an artificial way of acting

put on airs

: compressed air

put air in a tire

: aircraft

travel by air

: aviation

air safety

: the substance through which radio waves travel

: a radio or television broadcast

went on the air

: an air-conditioning system

turn on the air

: the height achieved in performing a maneuver in the air

a snowboarder catching big air

air

2 of 2 verb

: to place in the air for cooling, freshening, or cleaning

air blankets

: to make known in public

air one's complaints

: to broadcast on radio or television

Medical Definition

air

noun

ˈa(ə)r, ˈe(ə)r

: a mixture of invisible odorless tasteless sound-transmitting gases that is composed by volume chiefly of 78 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen, 0.9 percent argon, 0.03 percent carbon dioxide, varying amounts of water vapor, and minute amounts of rare gases (as helium), that surrounds the earth with half its mass within four miles of the earth's surface, that has a pressure at sea level of about 14.7 pounds per square inch, and that has a density of 1.293 grams per liter at 0°C and 760 mm pressure