Dictionary.com

Popular Searches

 Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

breathy

American  
[breth-ee] / ˈbrɛθ i /

adjective

breathier, breathiest

  1. (of the voice) characterized by audible or excessive emission of breath.

breathy British  
/ ˈbrɛθɪ /

adjective

  1. (of the speaking voice) accompanied by an audible emission of breath

  2. (of the singing voice) lacking resonance

"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

Other Word Forms

  • breathily adverb
  • breathiness noun

Etymology

Origin of breathy

First recorded in 1520–30; breath + -y 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In her small, breathy way she said, “Tom.”

From Literature

Her voice is breathy and strained.

From Literature

A sighing, whistling, breathy sound.

From Literature

And from both came the sighing, breathy sound.

From Literature

As the light started to fade and a breeze furrowed the surface of the lake, I saw a sudden movement in the water and heard a breathy sound.

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.