airs

British  

/ ɛəz /

plural noun

1. affected manners intended to impress others (esp in the phrases give oneself airs, put on airs )

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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."

Example Sentences

Because CBS News only airs a few hours a week of programming whereas CNN is 24/7, and it has international reach.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2026

The series finale of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” airs at 11:35 p.m.

From Salon • May 21, 2026

Cipriani said Shell reneged on a purported promise to make “Star Serenade,” an English-language version of a Spanish-language music reality series Cipriani and his wife created that airs on the Roku Channel.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

The BBC dance competition, which airs from September to December, is filmed at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

Then he made his way stealthily to the outlet of Shelob’s tunnel, where the rags of her great web were still blowing and swaying in the cold airs.

From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien