breather
Americannoun
-
breathers
plural
-
a pause, as for breath.
- Synonyms:
- intermission, recess, timeout, break, rest
-
vigorous exercise that causes heavy breathing.
-
a person who breathes.
-
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.
-
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.
noun
-
informal a short pause for rest
-
a person who breathes in a specified way
a deep breather
-
a vent in a container to equalize internal and external pressure, such as the pipe in the crankcase of an internal-combustion engine
-
a small opening in a room, container, cover, etc, supplying air for ventilation
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of breather
First recorded in 1350–1400, breather is from the Middle English word brethere. See breathe, -er 1
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.
See Examples For:
When might the generative-AI wave that has driven such large gains for semiconductor manufacturers, memory-chip makers and now Meta, for example, take a breather?
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026
Nevertheless, most analysts believe the ECB is likely to take a breather after Thursday, and think that Lagarde may offer some hints of this in her comments.
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
Does he need a breather before we start?
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
Will Smith was given a breather after going one for five with two RBIs in his first game back from a three-month stint on the IL on Tuesday.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026
As morning turned to afternoon, Mrs. Penworthy—that is to say, Simon— popped out of the inner room for a breather.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
Presumably he’ll give Braves infielders breathers as they gear up for the playoffs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2023
The idea of Cirque du Soleil might invite images of extravagant live shows with clowns, acrobats and fire breathers.
From New York Times ● Jul. 23, 2023
We’ve discussed previously how this team’s grueling style might not be sustainable over 82 regular-season games and that they’ll need to take unofficial breathers some games to make it to the playoffs in one piece.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 21, 2023
During breathers when she’s standing away from the Washington Mystics’ sideline.
From Washington Post ● May 7, 2022
Pretty soon it sounded like the five other breathers in the shed had left.
From "Bud, Not Buddy" by Christopher Paul Curtis
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.
