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

AQ points are earned whenever physical activity raises your heart rate enough to make you slightly out of breath.

From Science Daily ● May 16, 2026

"Travelling abroad plus the costs involved to run around a bit and get out of breath is a stretch for me," said one former participant on Reddit.

From BBC ● Jan. 25, 2026

He tried to talk, but he was out of breath from that crazy running, so he just stood there, making great gulping sounds with fishlike lips, trying to get his breath back.

From Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles

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