pant

1 of 5

verb

ˈpant 

panted; panting; pants

intransitive verb

1

a

: to breathe quickly, spasmodically, or in a labored manner

b

: to run panting

c

: to move with or make a throbbing or puffing sound

2

: to long eagerly : yearn

3

: throb, pulsate

transitive verb

: to utter with panting : gasp

pant

2 of 5

noun

1

a

: a panting breath

b

: the visible movement of the chest accompanying such a breath

2

: a throbbing or puffing sound

pant

3 of 5

variant of pants sense 1

pant

4 of 5

adjective

: of or relating to pants

a pant leg

pant-

5 of 5

combining form

variants or panto-

: all

pantisocracy

Synonyms

Verb

• blow
• gasp
• heave
• hyperventilate
• puff
• wheeze

Examples of pant in a Sentence

Verb

Dogs pant when they are hot.

The hikers were panting by the time they reached the top of the hill.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The image of Walz as a giddy schoolgirl gesticulating wildly and panting with enthusiasm for Vice President Kamala Harris is one the Trump campaign has tried to push since August, when Harris confirmed Walz would be her running mate on the 2024 Democratic ticket. —Samantha Riedel, Them, 2 Oct. 2024

The keepers monitor him for signs of additional heat stress, like panting or attempting to cover himself in mud, which Merner says can also act as a natural sunscreen and bug repellant. —Joan Meiners, USA TODAY, 11 Sep. 2024

Noun

At least twice this summer, she's been seen carrying St Agni's ludicrously capacious Oversized Nubuck Satchel with casual white T-shirts and lounge pants that puddle around her flip flops or glove flats. —Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 20 Oct. 2024

At the event, the actress posed alongside the likes of John Travolta on the red carpet, who looked dapper in a dark green jacket, black turtle neck top and black pants. —Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 20 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, modification of Anglo-French panteiser, from Vulgar Latin *phantasiare to have hallucinations, from Greek phantasioun, from phantasia appearance, imagination — more at fancy

Combining form

Greek, from pant-, pas — more at pan-

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

1513, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1892, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pant

• pant for breath
• yoga pant

Kids Definition

pant

verb

ˈpant

1

a

: to breathe hard or quickly : gasp

b

: to make a puffing sound

c

: to move forward with panting

the car panted up the hill

2

: to wish for eagerly : yearn

3

: to utter with panting

ran up and panted out the message

pant noun

Medical Definition

pant

intransitive verb

ˈpant 

: to breathe quickly, spasmodically, or in a labored manner