second wind

American  

[wind] / wɪnd /

noun

1. the return of ease in breathing after exhaustion caused by continued physical exertion, as in running.

2. the energy for a renewed effort to continue an undertaking.

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second wind British  

/ wɪnd /

noun

1. the return of the ability to breathe at a comfortable rate, esp following a period of exertion

2. renewed ability to continue in an effort

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second wind Cultural  

1. A new surge of energy after a period of mental or physical exhaustion: “At the midway mark, the marathoner got her second wind and left the other runners far behind.” The expression refers to the fact that a person's metabolism changes to a more efficient mode during prolonged exercise.

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second wind Idioms  

1. Restored energy or strength, enabling one to continue an activity or task. For example, I wasn't sure how far they'd get in a week, but now they seem to have gotten their second wind and are making good progress painting the mural. This expression, dating from the late 1800s, was at first (and still is) used for returned ease in breathing after becoming out of breath during physical exertion such as running. It soon began to be applied to nonphysical efforts as well.

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Etymology

Origin of second wind

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Cerebras went public over a decade after its founding, catching a second wind of market enthusiasm for AI after a cooling-off period earlier this year.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

It wasn’t until a pair of older women chuckled as they blew past me that I found my second wind.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

Russ finds a second wind when he tries out for a college football team as a walk-on quarterback, wearing heavy prosthetics and acting under the guise of a fabricated identity: Chad Powers.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 30, 2025

A second wind allowed him to hold serve and take the second set into a tie-break.

From BBC • Sep. 5, 2025

Nanuq suddenly seemed to catch a second wind, and he charged straight at Owen and George again.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz