out of breath

Idioms  

1. Breathing with difficulty, panting, gasping. For example, After five flights of stairs I'm out of breath. This slightly hyperbolic term (since literally running out of breath means one is dead) dates from the late 1500s. Also see catch one's breath.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

out of breath

I hear my 5-year-old son proudly exclaim, nearly out of breath.

From Slate ● Sep. 5, 2026

I was out of breath because I was pedaling at my regular cadence, but each stroke had a lot more power.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026

The activity needs to be strenuous enough to leave you noticeably out of breath.

From Science Daily ● May 16, 2026

I wanted people to notice that it sounds like she’s getting out of breath.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 16, 2024

Tired and out of breath, I finally reached the window.

From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff