breathe

American  

[breeth] / brið /

verb (used without object)

breathed, breathing

1. to take air, oxygen, etc., into the lungs and expel it; inhale and exhale; respire.

2. (in speech) to control the outgoing breath in producing voice and speech sounds.

3. to pause, as for breath or rest.

   How about giving me a chance to breathe?

4. to move gently or blow lightly, as air.

5. to live; exist.

   Hardly a person breathes who has not known great sorrow.

6. to be redolent or suggestive.

   a poem breathing of the sights and sounds of a rustic life.

7. (of a material) to allow air and moisture to pass through easily.

   The jacket is comfortable because the fabric breathes.

8. (of the skin) to absorb oxygen and give off perspiration.

9. (of a wine) to be exposed to air after being uncorked, in order to develop flavor and bouquet.

---

verb (used with object)

breathed, breathing

1. to inhale and exhale in respiration.

2. to exhale.

   Dragons breathe fire.

3. to inject as if by breathing; infuse.

   She breathed life into the party.

4. to give utterance to; whisper.

   She breathed a prayer of thanks when everyone escaped the fire unharmed.

5. to express; manifest.

   This coming-of-age novel breathes the torments and joys of adolescence.

   Synonyms:

   divulge, reveal, voice, murmur, tell, utter

6. to allow to rest or recover breath.

   After this next hill, we should breathe the horses.

7. to deprive of breath; tire; exhaust.

8. to cause to pant; exercise.

idioms

1. not breathe a word / syllable, to maintain secrecy; keep a matter confidential.

   I'll tell you if you promise not to breathe a word.

2. breathe one's last, to die.

   He breathed his last and was buried in the churchyard.

3. breathe freely, to have relief from anxiety, tension, or pressure: Also breathe easily, breathe easy.

   Now that the crisis was over, he could breathe freely.

4. breathe down someone's neck,

   1. to be close to someone in pursuit; menace; threaten.

      Police from four states were breathing down his neck.

   2. to watch someone closely so as to supervise or control.

      If everyone keeps breathing down my neck, how can I get my work done?

breathe British  

/ briːð /

verb

1. to take in oxygen from (the surrounding medium, esp air) and give out carbon dioxide; respire

2. (intr) to exist; be alive

   every animal that breathes on earth

3. (intr) to rest to regain breath, composure, etc

   stop your questions, and give me a chance to breathe

4. (intr) (esp of air) to blow lightly

   the wind breathed through the trees

5. (intr) machinery

   1. to take in air, esp for combustion

      the engine breathes through this air filter

   2. to equalize the pressure within a container, chamber, etc, with atmospheric pressure

      the crankcase breathes through this duct

6. (tr) phonetics to articulate (a speech sound) without vibration of the vocal cords Compare voice

7. to exhale or emit

   the dragon breathed fire

8. (tr) to impart; instil

   to breathe confidence into the actors

9. (tr) to speak softly; whisper

   to breathe words of love

10. (tr) to permit to rest

    to breathe a horse

11. (intr) (of a material) to allow air to pass through so that perspiration can evaporate

12. to feel relief

    I could breathe again after passing the exam

13. to stay close to someone, esp to oversee what they are doing

    the cops are breathing down my neck

14. to die or be finished or defeated

---

breathe More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing breathe

• as I live and breathe
• breathing space
• not breathe a word

---

Usage

Spelling tips for breathe The verb breathe is hard to spell because it is commonly confused with the noun breath, and it only differs by adding a silent e to the end. How to spell breathe: The verb breathe is pronounced [ breeth ] with a long E sound, unlike the noun breath [ breath ]. All that E sound reminds you that there is a final e at the end of breathe.

Other Word Forms

• outbreathe
  verb (used with object)
• prebreathe
  verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of breathe

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English brethe, brethen, breeth, derivative of breath

Explanation

When you breathe you take air into your lungs and let it out in a regular rhythm. Living things need to breathe to live. This word has several meanings related to living and taking in air. When someone says "As long as I breathe!" they mean "As long as I live!" In music, some silence can let the piece breathe. If you need a moment or room to breathe, you need a break. Wine breathes when it’s uncorked, enhancing its flavor. Breathing life into something gives it new energy. If this explanation has made you nervous, breathe deeply — that helps many people to relax.

Example Sentences

"My cat started digging. She made a small hole so I could breathe."

From BBC • May 5, 2026

"I'm slightly better now, but I'm still struggling to breathe normally... It's like I'm always catching my breath," he said, adding he hoped the fire would "be extinguished soon".

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

The group hopes that Pieter Mulier, whose appointment as Versace’s creative chief will take effect on July 1, will breathe new life into the brand after a difficult period marked by revenue decline and losses.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

“Dust off your old one. Go into a library and use it today. Come breathe life into it.”

From Salon • Apr. 26, 2026

He turned around and struck for the surface, but he could barely swim for the urge to breathe.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

Related Words

• exhale
• inhale
• sigh