sigh
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to let out one's breath audibly, as from sorrow, weariness, or relief.
-
to yearn or long; pine.
-
to make a sound suggesting a sigh.
sighing wind.
verb (used with object)
-
to express or utter with a sigh.
-
to lament with sighing.
noun
verb
-
(intr) to draw in and exhale audibly a deep breath as an expression of weariness, despair, relief, etc
-
(intr) to make a sound resembling this
trees sighing in the wind
-
to yearn, long, or pine
-
(tr) to utter or express with sighing
noun
Usage
What does sigh mean? Sigh, an audible exhalation, conveys a broad range of emotions from sadness and disappointment to sarcasm and relief. People frequently write it out online to express such sentiments.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
sighsimple
-
sighssimple
-
have sighedperfect
-
has sighedperfect
-
am sighingprogressive
-
are sighingprogressive
-
is sighingprogressive
-
have been sighingperfect progressive
-
has been sighingperfect progressive
Past
-
sighedsimple
-
had sighedperfect
-
was sighingprogressive
-
were sighingprogressive
-
had been sighingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of sigh
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English verb sighen, back formation from sihte “sighed,” past tense of Middle English siken, sichen “to sigh, moan,” Old English sīcan “to sigh, groan, long for”; noun derivative of the verb
Explanation
The sound that you make when you exhale loudly to show frustration, boredom, or relief is called a sigh. No matter how much you sigh during your family's annual car trip to the Grand Canyon, your dad won't drive any faster. Something that sounds like a human sigh is also called a sigh. The breeze might sigh in the still night air, or a screen door might sigh closed. The word sigh comes from the Old English word of the same meaning, sican, which was probably imitative, echoing the sound of a sigh.
Vocabulary lists containing sigh
"The Road Not Taken"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"We Wear the Mask" by Paul Laurence Dunbar
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The House on Mango Street" and "The Road Not Taken"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Another replied, “What’s funny is after he got it he had a big sigh of relief.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 29, 2026
Gamers are likely breathing a sigh of relief that Take-Two also confirmed that the official launch date of GTA VI is still Nov. 19.
From Barron's • Jun. 24, 2026
Sobs could be heard at the back of the public gallery, while Nowak's family let out a sigh and hugged as they left the room.
From BBC • May 28, 2026
Reaves, sigh, has clearly been unable to overcome his oblique injury and playoff demons.
From Los Angeles Times • May 10, 2026
First, Mama let out a big sigh, and Daddy smiled and shook his head.
From "Ida B" by Katherine Hannigan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
