breathe
verb (used without object)
to take air, oxygen, etc., into the lungs and expel it; inhale and exhale; respire.
were 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.
Another document highlights information provided by Congressman Jerry Nadler during Bloomberg's tenure regarding concerns from residents of Lower Manhattan about the quality of the air they were breathing.
From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026
As the bowls rang through the paddock, it felt as though the trees, horses and guests were breathing as one.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 9, 2025
The intensity of the bioluminescence corresponded with the concentration of oxygen, which the researchers demonstrated by changing the amount of oxygen in the air the animals were breathing.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 28, 2024
Some residents living in social housing in Rochdale blighted by damp and mould said they had been told they were breathing too much.
From BBC ● Jan. 13, 2024
They were breathing the rich scent of grilled onions and keeping dinner warm in the oven by the time he returned.
From "Habibi" by Naomi Shihab Nye
