breathing
Americannoun
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the act of a person or other animal that breathes; respiration.
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a single breath.
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the short time required for a single breath.
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a pause, as for breath.
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utterance or words.
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a gentle moving or blowing, as of wind.
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Classical Greek Grammar.
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the manner of articulating the beginning of a word written with an initial vowel sign, with or without aspiration before the vowel.
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one of the two symbols used to indicate this.
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noun
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the passage of air into and out of the lungs to supply the body with oxygen
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a single breath
a breathing between words
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an utterance
a breathing of hate
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a soft movement, esp of air
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a rest or pause
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phonetics
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expulsion of breath ( rough breathing ) or absence of such expulsion ( smooth breathing ) preceding the pronunciation of an initial vowel or rho in ancient Greek
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either of two symbols indicating this
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Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of breathing
First recorded in 1350–1400, breathing is from the Middle English word brethynge. See breathe, -ing 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
RBC analysts led by Biraj Borkhataria said the surge in oil prices has given BP some breathing space to boost performance.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026
In a press conference, Warsh said that though the Fed is determined to corral inflation, higher market-based interest rates over the past several weeks afforded the central bank some breathing room.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
Diomande is not just marketable as a living, breathing highlight reel, but also because he is a true rags-to-riches story.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
Really labored breathing, kind of tugging in their belly, tugging between their ribs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
My breathing is shallow and my heart pounds against my too-small ribcage.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
