perspire

[ per-spahyuhr ]

/ pərˈspaɪər /

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See synonyms for: perspire / perspired / perspiring / perspiry on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), per·spired, per·spir·ing.

to secrete a salty, watery fluid from the sweat glands of the skin, especially when very warm as a result of strenuous exertion; sweat.

verb (used with object), per·spired, per·spir·ing.

to emit through pores; exude.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of perspire

1640–50; <Latin perspīrāre to blow constantly (said of the wind), breathe through; in New Latin: to sweat imperceptibly. See per-, inspire

OTHER WORDS FROM perspire

per·spir·a·bil·i·ty, nounper·spir·a·ble, adjectiveper·spir·ing·ly, adverbper·spir·y, adjective

un·per·spired, adjectiveun·per·spir·ing, adjective

Words nearby perspire

perspicacity, perspicuity, perspicuous, perspiration, perspiratory, perspire, Persson, per stirpes, persuade, persuader, persuasible

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use perspire in a sentence

You can certainly perspire your way into needing an infusion of these substances.
The truth about hydration hacks like IV therapies, alkaline water, and more|Ellen Airhart|January 15, 2022|Popular-Science
When you perspire, it remains next-to-skin, unable to evaporate.
This New Breathable Hard Shell Is Also the Most Waterproof|wsiler|September 18, 2021|Outside Online
The elderly generally don’t sweat or pump blood as efficiently as youngsters can, while children tend to perspire less and have greater surface-to-body-mass ratios.
Heat is the silent killer we should all be worried about|Rachel Feltman|June 29, 2021|Popular-Science
If you don’t want to get sweaty during your workday, simply stop before you perspire, she says.
The Best Exercises to Sneak Into Your Workday|Pam Moore|February 22, 2021|Time

I was beginning to perspire; for the first time, I felt a flicker of anxiety.
Ciao, Roma! Hello, Newark!|James Atlas|January 6, 2011|DAILY BEAST
He had begun to perspire, and he kept running his fingers round his neck between flesh and collar.
The Winning Clue|James Hay, Jr.
Mr. Wordsley began to perspire heavily, and the moisture ran down and puddled in his boots.
The Marooner|Charles A. Stearns
He does not so readily perspire excessively as other men, neither is there any want of free and easy perspiration.
Vegetable Diet: As Sanctioned by Medical Men, and by Experience in All Ages|William Andrus Alcott
It is a common opinion among the laboring portion of the community, that they who perspire freely, must drink freely.
Vegetable Diet: As Sanctioned by Medical Men, and by Experience in All Ages|William Andrus Alcott
The branch continued to "perspire" for two days, but gave off only about half the amount of water transpired by a normal branch.
Makers of British Botany; a collection of biographies by living botanists|Various

British Dictionary definitions for perspire

perspire

/ (pəˈspaɪə) /

verb

to secrete or exude (perspiration) through the pores of the skin

Derived forms of perspire

perspiringly, adverb

Word Origin for perspire

C17: from Latin perspīrāre to blow, from per- (through) + spīrāre to breathe; compare inspire

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

perspire

Origin of perspire

OTHER WORDS FROM perspire

Words nearby perspire

Words related to perspire

How to use perspire in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for perspire

Derived forms of perspire

Word Origin for perspire