breathed

American

[bretht, breethd] / brɛθt, briðd /

adjective

Phonetics.

not phonated; unvoiced; voiceless.
utilizing the breath exclusively in the production of a speech sound.

breathed British

/ briːðd, brɛθt /

adjective

phonetics relating to or denoting a speech sound for whose articulation the vocal cords are not made to vibrate Compare voiced

"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

Etymology

Origin of breathed

First recorded in 1875–80; breath + -ed ³

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.

Markets have soared toward the rare air last breathed by investors in the mid-1980s, but the stalling tech rally is bringing stocks back down to Earth.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

While some in China breathed a sigh of relief, Xi vowed to ensure China wouldn’t be so vulnerable again.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026

Alex says Zoe was "full of life" and "lived and breathed for her children".

From BBC • May 10, 2026

A Clean Air Act rule that was updated in 2024 regulates the smelter’s emissions and, by extension, the air breathed by the 10,000 people who live in these towns.

From Salon • May 10, 2026

Owen breathed a sigh of relief, for him and George and for Nanuq.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023