sigh

[sahy]

verb (used without object)

1. to let out one's breath audibly, as from sorrow, weariness, or relief.

2. to yearn or long; pine.

3. to make a sound suggesting a sigh.

   sighing wind.

verb (used with object)

1. to express or utter with a sigh.

2. to lament with sighing.

noun

1. the act or sound of sighing.

sigh

/ saɪ /

verb

1. (intr) to draw in and exhale audibly a deep breath as an expression of weariness, despair, relief, etc

2. (intr) to make a sound resembling this

   trees sighing in the wind

3. to yearn, long, or pine

4. (tr) to utter or express with sighing

noun

1. the act or sound of sighing

Other Word Forms

• sigher noun
• outsigh verb (used with object)
• unsighing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sigh¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of sigh¹

Old English sīcan, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

She is one of the millions of Americans who sighed a deep breath of relief when politicians in Washington agreed to reopen the government earlier this week.

Read more on BBC

The end of the longest U.S. government shutdown in history should have drawn a sigh of relief from investors.

Read more on Barron's

Mom sighed as she picked up her purse from the bench.

Read more on Literature

“It wasn’t important at all,” she says with a sigh.

Read more on Literature

Monday’s recovery of prices of technology stocks may have caused some sighs of relief, but the S&P 500 remains highly concentrated.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• cry 
• exhale 
• gasp 
• groan 
• howl 
• moan 
• murmur 
• sob 
• whisper 
• whistle 

When To Use

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.