breathing

American  

[bree-thing] / ˈbri ðɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or other animal that breathes; respiration.

2. a single breath.

3. the short time required for a single breath.

4. a pause, as for breath.

5. utterance or words.

6. a gentle moving or blowing, as of wind.

7. Classical Greek Grammar.

   1. the manner of articulating the beginning of a word written with an initial vowel sign, with or without aspiration before the vowel.

   2. one of the two symbols used to indicate this.

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breathing British  

/ ˈbriːðɪŋ /

noun

1. the passage of air into and out of the lungs to supply the body with oxygen

2. a single breath

   a breathing between words

3. an utterance

   a breathing of hate

4. a soft movement, esp of air

5. a rest or pause

6. phonetics

   1. expulsion of breath ( rough breathing ) or absence of such expulsion ( smooth breathing ) preceding the pronunciation of an initial vowel or rho in ancient Greek

   2. either of two symbols indicating this

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Other Word Forms

• breathingly
  adverb
• unbreathing
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of breathing

First recorded in 1350–1400, breathing is from the Middle English word brethynge. See breathe, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

With COVID, people could get sick just by breathing in aerosolized viral particles floating around and pushed across an entire room by an air conditioning vent.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

A post mortem examination found Lois died from a sudden and severe lack of oxygen to her vital organs, likely caused by breathing in her first stool, and the onset of bacterial infection.

From BBC • May 11, 2026

They may have then spread Andes virus to others through breathing shared air or other close contact in close quarters.

From Salon • May 9, 2026

Rao negotiated a capital infusion that kept Airbnb afloat: a $1 billion deal from Sixth Street Partners and Silver Lake that gave the company crucial breathing room.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

Most of the crew were seriously ill or injured: swollen legs, missing digits, labored breathing, feverish.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Related Words

• respiratory