breathless

American  

[breth-lis] / ˈbrɛθ lɪs /

adjective

1. without breath or breathing with difficulty; gasping; panting.

   We were breathless after the steep climb.

2. with the breath held, as in suspense, astonishment, fear, or the like.

   breathless listeners of the mystery story.

3. causing loss of breath, as from excitement, anticipation, or tension.

   a breathless ride.

4. dead; lifeless.

5. motionless or still, as air without a breeze.

   a breathless summer day.

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breathless British  

/ ˈbrɛθlɪs /

adjective

1. out of breath; gasping, etc

2. holding one's breath or having it taken away by excitement, etc

   a breathless confrontation

3. (esp of the atmosphere) motionless and stifling

4. rare lifeless; dead

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Other Word Forms

• breathlessly adverb
• breathlessness noun

Etymology

Origin of breathless

First recorded in 1350–1400, breathless is from the Middle English word brethles. See breath, -less

Example Sentences

The England centre slotted the winning kick - his seventh out of seven - to edge out the Italians in a breathless encounter at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

And we’re all left a little breathless, looking around at each other, as though something magical has occurred.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

Each crisis produced its share of breathless predictions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

When it’s all said and done, and the headphones have lost their charge, there’s nothing more for “Undertone” to do, no ace in the hole final punch to leave viewers breathless.

From Salon • Mar. 15, 2026

He stumbled, breathless and torn, into the kitchen of the house on Westward Meadows.

From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman