exhale

[eks-heyl, ek-seyl]

verb (used without object)

exhaled, exhaling 

1. to emit breath or vapor; breathe out.

2. to pass off as vapor; pass off as an effluence.

verb (used with object)

exhaled, exhaling 

1. to breathe out; emit (air, vapor, sound, etc.).

   to exhale a sigh.

2. to give off as vapor.

   The engine exhaled steam.

3. to draw out as a vapor or effluence; evaporate.

exhale

/ ɛksˈheɪl, ɪɡˈzeɪl /

verb

1. to expel (breath, tobacco smoke, etc) from the lungs; breathe out

2. to give off (air, vapour, fumes, etc) or (of air, vapour, etc) to be given off; emanate

Other Word Forms

• unexhaled adjective
• exhalable adjective
• exhalation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of exhale¹

1350–1400; Middle English exalen < Latin exhālāre, equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + hālāre to breathe

Word History and Origins

Origin of exhale¹

C14: from Latin exhālāre to breathe out, from hālāre to breathe

Example Sentences

The question remains of whether this was a turning point or a temporary reprieve in a lost season, but at least for the moment everyone associated with the team could deeply exhale.

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“I pulled almost an all-nighter last night, so he’s been keeping us up,” he said, exhaling a light chuckle.

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But Fitzgerald swooped in, as USC was finally able to exhale with a Big Ten road victory in hand.

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Together, the crowd exhaled three long, loud sighs, then tapped their chests in unison, repeating softly: “This is my heart. This is my heart. This is my heart.”

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Then you go along the bottom and you exhale for four seconds.

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Related Words

• breathe 
• emit 
• give off 
• let out