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

Leonardo DiCaprio's breathless action thriller, One Battle After Another, clinched best picture, while Paul Thomas Anderson took home best director.

From BBC

England won a breathless fourth Test in Melbourne on Saturday by four wickets inside two days for their first Ashes match win in Australia since the 2010/11 series.

From Barron's

Though the title jams everybody together in one breathless, unpunctuated rush, this is very much a movie about distance within families; an ellipsis between each word might have been apt.

From The Wall Street Journal

The situation underscores a broader truth about modern wealth: For all the breathless rankings and headline valuations, the finances of the superrich are often opaque.

From The Wall Street Journal

Nobody wants to see a repeat of 2012, when the failure to reach a deal led to replacement officials and breathless complaints.

From The Wall Street Journal