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.

---

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

---

Other Word Forms

• breathlessness
  noun
• breathlessly
  adverb

---

Etymology

Origin of breathless

First recorded in 1350–1400, breathless is from the Middle English word brethles. See breath, -less

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

breathless

Even "something as simple as throwing a duvet on the bed", can leave her breathless.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

I think about that aspect later in the evening during “Star 69,” which from the outside seems like a simple rock ‘n’ roll song, very loud guitar matched by breathless, insistent loud vocals.

From Salon ● Oct. 7, 2026

Twenty-five years ago, the exhibition “Norman Rockwell: Pictures for the American People” attempted to raise Rockwell to the status of master, and drew breathless acclaim.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

Lando Norris took a superb pole position for McLaren at the Spanish Grand Prix, beating Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli and Red Bull's Max Verstappen in a breathless final few seconds of qualifying.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

The conductor’s baton was raised, the audience braced, that breathless moment before a cacophony of chaos filled the air.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---