- present tense form of air (3rd person singular).
airs
Britishplural noun
Explanation
To have airs is to be condescending or arrogant — in other words, to act like you think you're better than other people. If you put on airs, you'll find it hard to make friends. It's most common to find the word airs in the phrase "to put on airs." This basically means to act snobbish or stuck up. Someone who puts on airs is extremely annoying to everyone around him, clearly pretentious and mannered in his attitude. The phrase has been around since the 1780s, and it comes from the French air, "look, appearance, bearing, or tone."
Vocabulary lists containing airs
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.
The US version runs for six weeks once a year, while the UK summer edition typically airs across eight weeks.
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026
At a Milan pizzeria that normally airs matches, the screens were showing a news segment about a gathering of Vespa riders.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 2026
For the hour the show airs, we leave our stresses behind and focus on enjoying each other’s company.
From Salon ● Jun. 15, 2026
Mariana van Zeller: The multilingual journalist is best known for her documentary series “Trafficked,” which airs on the National Geographic Channel.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026
A strong wind from the West was now driving the fumes of Mordor from the upper airs.
From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien
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.
