pant-

¹

1. variant of panto- before a vowel.

pant

²

[pant]

verb (used without object)

1. to breathe hard and quickly, as after exertion.

   Synonyms: vibrate, throb, pulse, pulsate, pound, blow, wheeze, puff, heave

2. to gasp, as for air.

3. to long with breathless or intense eagerness; yearn.

   to pant for revenge.

   Synonyms: covet, thirst, hunger, hanker

4. to throb or heave violently or rapidly; palpitate.

5. to emit steam or the like in loud puffs.

6. Nautical.,  (of the bow or stern of a ship) to work with the shock of contact with a succession of waves.

verb (used with object)

1. to breathe or utter gaspingly.

noun

1. the act of panting.

2. a short, quick, labored effort at breathing; gasp.

3. a puff, as of an engine.

4. a throb or heave, as of the breast.

pant

³

[pant]

adjective

1. of or relating to pants.

   pant cuffs.

noun

1. pant leg.

2. pants.

pant

/ pænt /

verb

1. to breathe with noisy deep gasps, as when out of breath from exertion or excitement

2. to say (something) while breathing thus

3. to have a frantic desire (for); yearn

4. (intr) to pulsate; throb rapidly

noun

1. the act or an instance of panting

2. a short deep gasping noise; puff

Other Word Forms

• pantingly adverb
• unpanting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pant-¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb panten, from Old French pant(a)is(i)er, from unattested Vulgar Latin phantasiāre “to have visions,” from Greek phantasioûn “to have or form images”; fantasy

Origin of pant-²

First recorded in 1890–95; singular of pants

Word History and Origins

Origin of pant-¹

C15: from Old French pantaisier, from Greek phantasioun to have visions, from phantasia _fantasy

Synonym Study

Pant, gasp suggest breathing with more effort than usual. Pant suggests rapid, convulsive breathing, as from violent exertion or excitement: to pant after running for the train. Gasp suggests catching one's breath in a single quick intake, as from amazement, terror, and the like, or a series of such quick intakes of breath, as in painful breathing: to gasp with horror; to gasp for breath.

Example Sentences

After making a bundle as a hedge fund manager, the San Francisco billionaire and environmental activist has been panting after public office for years.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“I’ll be there this time,” said Logan, who was eating healthy watermelons before the game but wearing his usual short pants during the game on a night to remember.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

An owner once spread bacon grease on his pants.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

At the hospital where Dr. Zoubi works, he numbered and photographed each corpse along with the scraps of belts, scarves, jackets, and pants found with them.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“It’s amazing how much freedom your parents give you,” I pant hurriedly, attempting and failing to return the one-handed signs.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• breathe heavily www.thesaurus.com

When To Use

What does pant- mean?

Pant- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “all.” It is occasionally used in a variety of scientific and technical terms.Pant- comes from the Greek pâs, meaning “all.” The equivalent form derived from Latin is omni-, as in omnivore, which comes from Latin omnis, “all.”What are variants of pan-?Pant- is a variant of panto-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. Another common variant of pant- is pan-, as in panhuman.Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles on pan- and panto-.