breathtaking

[breth-tey-king]

adjective

1. thrillingly beautiful, remarkable, astonishing, exciting, or the like.

   a breathtaking performance.

breathtaking

/ ˈbrɛθˌteɪkɪŋ /

adjective

1. causing awe or excitement

   a breathtaking view

Other Word Forms

• breathtakingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of breathtaking¹

First recorded in 1875–80; breath + take + -ing ²

Example Sentences

It’s a moment of breathtaking poise and mournful feeling, and it prepares us for what’s to come, when Ms. Huston delivers a monologue about a long-lost love with quiet, devastating force.

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Some fans were supportive of the so-called queen of pop-rap, saying her "dance break was breathtaking" and describing her as "one of the greatest performers ever".

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We were slowly making progress, but then a breathtaking tragedy took place.

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According to one minister, the whole thing was "breathtaking self-indulgence" by No 10, looking inward at a time when the country desperately wants and needs a government that looks like "we get it".

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However, a mixed day on Wall Street highlighted ongoing worries about elevated tech valuations following a breathtaking AI-fuelled rally this year.

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Related Words

• amazing 
• astonishing 
• exciting 
• hair-raising 
• heart-stopping www.thesaurus.com
• impressive 
• magnificent 
• stunning 
• thrilling