breathtaking

[breth-tey-king]

adjective

thrillingly beautiful, remarkable, astonishing, exciting, or the like: a breathtaking performance.

Origin of breathtaking

First recorded in 1875–80; breath + take + -ing²

Related formsbreath·tak·ing·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for breathtakingly

Contemporary Examples of breathtakingly

The dance sequences in Pina are breathtakingly filmed—some in the theater, some in outdoor settings.
Wim Wenders Talks About His 3-D Pina Bausch Documentary
Stephen Farber
December 23, 2011
The good cop/bad cop routine with Joe Biden, who dutifully argued against more troops, was breathtakingly cynical.
Bush Lite
Lee Siegel
November 30, 2009
A few weeks ago, she debuted her spring collection of breathtakingly short, tight dresses and skirts, to critical raves.
Inside Donatella's World
Rebecca Dana
October 20, 2009
He had bet on real estate for decades and been breathtakingly successful.
More Bad News for Tribune
Larry Kramer
December 8, 2008

Historical Examples of breathtakingly

No woman he had ever known seemed so breathtakingly beautiful.
Impact
Irving E. Cox
The feeling of being cast on your own resources is at once blissfully uplifting and breathtakingly fearsome.
Left End Edwards
Ralph Henry Barbour

British Dictionary definitions for breathtakingly

breathtaking

adjective

causing awe or excitementa breathtaking view

Derived Formsbreathtakingly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for breathtakingly

breathtaking

adj.

1867, from breath + present participle of take (v.). Phrase to take (one's) breath away with astonishment or delight is from 1864. Breathtaking (n.) "act of taking breaths or a breath" is from 1620s. Related: Breathtakingly.