breather

American  

[bree-ther] / ˈbri ðər /

noun

1. a pause, as for breath.

   Synonyms:

   intermission, recess, timeout, break, rest

2. vigorous exercise that causes heavy breathing.

3. a person who breathes.

4. a vent in a container or covering, as in a casing for machinery or in a storage tank, to equalize interior and exterior pressure, permit entry of air, escape of fumes, or the like.

5. a device for providing air from the atmosphere to submerged or otherwise sealed-off persons, internal-combustion engines, etc..

   the snorkel breather of a submarine.

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breather British  

/ ˈbriːðə /

noun

1. informal a short pause for rest

2. a person who breathes in a specified way

   a deep breather

3. a vent in a container to equalize internal and external pressure, such as the pipe in the crankcase of an internal-combustion engine

4. a small opening in a room, container, cover, etc, supplying air for ventilation

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Etymology

Origin of breather

First recorded in 1350–1400, breather is from the Middle English word brethere. See breathe, -er ¹

Example Sentences

But head coach Sergej Jakirovic will be sitting out the Sin City jaunt as he takes a more peaceful breather before the bright lights of the Premier League beckon.

From BBC • May 23, 2026

However, in "breather" lasers, the pulses continually change over time.

From Science Daily • May 21, 2026

Tech stocks appear poised to recover from Tuesday’s wobble and oil prices are taking a breather after U.S. benchmark crude futures pushed past $100 a barrel.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

Markets seemed to be taking a breather to decide just how risk-on to get—and that’s probably a good thing.

From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026

At Los Alamos, however, Norris Bradbury relished getting a breather from the relentless demand for more designs and more tests.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• lull
• respite