breathe
verb (used without object)
to take air, oxygen, etc., into the lungs and expel it; inhale and exhale; respire.
was breathing
-
past progressiveof breathe.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Love said Ms Parton was breathing and didn't look that badly injured and that she called out her name.
From BBC ● May 22, 2026
While the Middle East was breathing a sigh of relief at the U.S.-Iran cease-fire, a big-money battle was raging at Polymarket.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 11, 2026
When my partner had an asthma attack, we went to the clinic and within minutes, he was breathing in albuterol mist from a nebulizer.
From Salon ● Feb. 15, 2026
He rose heavily and was breathing hard as he attempted to mask the damage with bravado.
From BBC ● Dec. 20, 2025
Mrs. Pritchard was a mite plump, so she was breathing hard by the time she caught up with me.
From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney
