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Synonyms

breathe life into

Idioms  

  1. Also, breathe new life into. Revive someone or something. For example, Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) shows one how to breathe life into a drowning victim, or Her appointment breathed new life into the firm. This term is used both literally, for reviving a person who has stopped breathing temporarily, and figuratively, for giving new impetus to or renewing some project. Also see breath of fresh air.

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 artificial intelligence-led boom in U.S. productivity is making it harder for the Federal Reserve to breathe life into a languishing labor market.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 7, 2026

To make the lines stand out, the nanny breathes on the glass, suggesting her love has helped to breathe life into the girl.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025

“Once you do that, you find that he had a uniquely important life. He helped breathe life into the movement that ultimately destroyed slavery.”

From Seattle Times • Feb. 16, 2024

So Guild knew he’d need to reimagine his book to breathe life into it.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 15, 2024

We sit waiting for someone to breathe life into us.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar

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.