air

[ air ]

/ ɛər /

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See synonyms for air on Thesaurus.com

noun

a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, and minute amounts of other gases that surrounds the earth and forms its atmosphere.

a stir in the atmosphere; a light breeze.

overhead space; sky: The planes filled the air.

circulation; publication; publicity: to give air to one's theories.

the general character or complexion of anything; appearance: His early work had an air of freshness and originality.

the peculiar look, appearance, and bearing of a person: There is an air of mystery about him.

airs, affected or unnatural manner; manifestation of pride or vanity; assumed haughtiness: He acquired airs that were insufferable to his friends.

Music.

a tune; melody.
the soprano or treble part.
an aria.
Also ayre . an Elizabethan art song.

aircraft as a means of transportation: to arrive by air;to ship goods by air.

Informal. air conditioning or an air-conditioning system: The price includes tires, radio, and air.

Sports.

(during an airborne stunt) the height between the ground and an athlete or an athlete with their equipment: The BMX course was designed for riders to get good air.
such a jump or other airborne stunt: The snowboarder took first place with four clean airs.

Radio. the medium through which radio waves are transmitted.

Archaic. breath.

verb (used with object)

to expose to the air; give access to the open air; ventilate (often followed by out): We air the bedrooms every day.

to expose ostentatiously; bring to public notice; display: to air one's opinions;to air one's theories.

to broadcast or televise.

verb (used without object)

to be exposed to the open air (often followed by out): Open the window and let the room air out.

to be broadcast or televised.

adjective

operating by means of air pressure or by acting upon air: an air drill;an air pump.

of or relating to aircraft or to aviation: air industry.

taking place in the air; aerial: air war.

OTHER WORDS FOR air

5, 6 aspect.

6 aura, demeanor, attitude.

See synonyms for air on Thesaurus.com

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There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about air

clear the air, to eliminate dissension, ambiguity, or tension from a discussion, situation, etc.: The staff meeting was intended to help clear the air.

get some air,

to take a break from an unpleasant encounter or stifling environment: She walked away from the argument to get some air.
to take a short rest.

get the air, Informal.

to be rejected, as by a lover.
to be dismissed, as by an employer: He had worked only a few days when he got the air.

give (someone) the air, Informal.

to reject, as a lover: He was bitter because she gave him the air.
to dismiss, as an employee.

in the air, in circulation; current: There's a rumor in the air that we're moving to a new location.

into thin air, completely out of sight or reach: He vanished into thin air.

off the air,

not broadcasting: The station goes off the air at midnight.
not broadcast; out of operation as a broadcast: The program went off the air years ago.

on the air, in the act of broadcasting; being broadcast: The program will be going on the air in a few seconds.

put on airs, to assume an affected or haughty manner: As their fortune increased, they began to put on airs.

take the air,

to go out-of-doors; take a short walk or ride.
Slang. to leave, especially hurriedly.
to begin broadcasting.

up in the air,

Also in the air . undecided or unsettled: The contract is still up in the air.
Informal. angry; perturbed: There is no need to get up in the air over a simple mistake.

walk / tread on air, to feel very happy; be elated.

Origin of air

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English eir, from Old French air, from Latin āēr- (accusative āerem ), from Greek āer- (stem of āḗr ) “the lower atmosphere”; conflated with (especially for defs. 4, 5) French air, Old French aire “nature, character,” Latin ager “field” (cf. acre) and ārea “threshing floor, clearing, area ”; and with (for def. 7) French air, from Italian aria aria

synonym study for air

2. See wind¹. 6. See manner¹.

OTHER WORDS FROM air

airlike, adjectiveun·aired, adjectivewell-aired, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH air

1. air , e'er, ere, heir2. air , er, err

Other definitions for air (2 of 4)

air²

[ air ]

/ ɛər /

Scot.

adjective

early.

adverb

Obsolete. before; previously.

Origin of air

see origin at ere

Other definitions for air (3 of 4)

a-i-r

abbreviation

artist-in-residence.

Other definitions for air (4 of 4)

Aïr

[ ah-eer ]

/ ˈɑ ɪər /

noun

a region in northern Niger, in the Sahara: low massif and oases. About 30,000 sq. mi. (77,700 sq. km).

Also called As·ben

[ahs-ben] /ɑsˈbɛn/ .

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use air in a sentence

Prior to the premiere of “Carry On,” the CW aired an hour-long documentary commemorating Supernatural’s 15 seasons and giving members of the large ensemble cast a chance to bid the show farewell.
Supernatural’s bonkers series finale marked the end of an era of fandom|Aja Romano|November 20, 2020|Vox
Unless you’re buying a tree that will suck carbon from the air, most products require land, water and fossil fuels to produce and use.
Trying to shop sustainably? Here’s what you need to consider.|Sarah Kaplan|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Entranced, Weller swan-dove headlong into the heart of Ferry’s unwritten sophisti-pop syllabus with airs that were tonier, goofier and made for extraordinarily easier listening than anything the Jam would’ve deigned to do.
Almost anarchy: The Style Council and the smooth sounds of sophisti-pop|Mina Tavakoli|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
The creativity needed to even pull off a weekend of games now has an air of desperation.
College football has been battered by covid. What’s most startling is our acceptance.|Barry Svrluga|November 20, 2020|Washington Post

Sunshine returns as drier air moves in during the afternoon.
D.C.-area forecast: Mainly clear skies plus warmer temperatures today and tomorrow|A. Camden Walker|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
“In America 100 percent of men have free sexual relations after marriage,” he said in another speech, which was aired on TV.
50 Shades of Iran: The Mullahs’ Kinky Fantasies about Sex in the West|IranWire, Shima Sharabi|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The Newsroom aired its final episode on Sunday, already an eternity ago in news-cycle terms.
A Few Great Men Too Many: Aaron Sorkin Doesn’t Think You Can Handle the Truth|Arthur Chu|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The episode that aired before it, which involved a campus rape victim, was highly controversial.
'The Newsroom' Ended As It Began: Weird, Controversial, and Noble|Kevin Fallon|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And the string of episodes that aired before that were gripping, noble, and simply entertaining to watch.
'The Newsroom' Ended As It Began: Weird, Controversial, and Noble|Kevin Fallon|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And just last May Glee aired “Old Dog, New Trick,” the first episode scripted by Colfer.
Chris Colfer on Writing, Acting, and the Pain of Being A Pop Culture Trailblazer|Oliver Jones|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He is thoughtful, but there is much sly humour in him; he is cautious but free when aired a little.
Our Churches and Chapels|Atticus
The two men aired their grievances in a long and acrimonious controversy carried on in the columns of the Virginia Gazette.
Journal and Letters of Philip Vickers Fithian: A Plantation Tutor of the Old Dominion, 1773-1774.|Philip Vickers Fithian
These she aired by the fire, and laid them over the mattress when they were quite warm.
Sue, A Little Heroine|L. T. Meade
If you have a movable tub see that it is aired each morning after using.
The Complete Bachelor|Walter Germain
He placed a chair for her and she thoroughly aired her grievance.
Dorothy's Travels|Evelyn Raymond

British Dictionary definitions for air (1 of 3)

air

/ (ɛə) /

noun

the mixture of gases that forms the earth's atmosphere. At sea level dry air has a density of 1.226 kilograms per cubic metre and consists of 78.08 per cent nitrogen, 20.95 per cent oxygen, 0.93 per cent argon, 0.03 per cent carbon dioxide, with smaller quantities of ozone and inert gases; water vapour varies between 0 and 4 per cent and in industrial areas sulphur gases may be present as pollutants

the space above and around the earth; skyRelated adjective: aerial

breeze; slight wind

public expression; utteranceto give air to one's complaints

a distinctive qualityan air of mystery

a person's distinctive appearance, manner, or bearing

music

a simple tune for either vocal or instrumental performance
another word for aria

transportation in aircraft (esp in the phrase by air)

an archaic word for breath (def. 1), breath (def. 2), breath (def. 3)

Australian informal the height gained when getting airborne in surfing, snowboarding, etc

clear the air to rid a situation of tension or discord by settling misunderstandings, etc

give someone the air slang to reject or dismiss someone

in the air

in circulation; current
in the process of being decided; unsettled

into thin air leaving no trace behind

off the air not in the act of broadcasting or being broadcast on radio or television

on the air in the act of broadcasting or being broadcast on radio or television

out of thin air or from thin air suddenly and unexpectedly

take the air to go out of doors, as for a short walk or ride

up in the air

uncertain
informal agitated or excited

walk on air to feel elated or exhilarated

(modifier) astrology of or relating to a group of three signs of the zodiac, Gemini, Libra, and AquariusCompare earth (def. 10), fire (def. 24), water (def. 12)

verb

to expose or be exposed to the air so as to cool or freshen; ventilateto air a room

to expose or be exposed to warm or heated air so as to dryto air linen

(tr) to make known publicly; display; publicizeto air one's opinions

(intr) (of a television or radio programme) to be broadcast

Word Origin for air

C13: via Old French and Latin from Greek aēr the lower atmosphere

British Dictionary definitions for air (2 of 3)

AIR

abbreviation for

All India Radio

British Dictionary definitions for air (3 of 3)

Aïr

/ (ˈɑːɪə) /

noun

a mountainous region of N central Niger, in the Sahara, rising to 1500 m (5000 ft): a former native kingdom. Area: about 77 700 sq km (30 000 sq miles)Also called: Azbine, Asben

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for air

air

[ âr ]

The colorless, odorless, tasteless mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth. Air consists of about 78 percent nitrogen and 21 percent oxygen, with the remaining part made up mainly of argon, carbon dioxide, neon, helium, methane, and krypton in decreasing order of volume. Air also contains varying amounts of water vapor, particulate matter such as dust and soot, and chemical pollutants.

Other Idioms and Phrases with air

air

In addition to the idiom beginning with air

air one's grievances

also see:

breath of fresh air
castles in the air
clear the air
give someone the air
hot air
in the air
into (out of) thin air
nose in the air
off the air
put on airs
up in the air
walk on air
wash (air) one's dirty linen

air

OTHER WORDS FOR air

Idioms about air

Origin of air

synonym study for air

OTHER WORDS FROM air

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH air

Other definitions for air (2 of 4)

Origin of air

Other definitions for air (3 of 4)

Other definitions for air (4 of 4)

Words related to air

How to use air in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for air (1 of 3)

Word Origin for air

British Dictionary definitions for air (2 of 3)

British Dictionary definitions for air (3 of 3)

Scientific definitions for air

Other Idioms and Phrases with air