breathe
breeth
Breathe (verb) means to draw air into the lungs and expel it. Example: “The swimmer turned her head to breathe after every third stroke.”
verb
1
To draw air into the lungs and expel it.
"The swimmer turned her head to breathe after every third stroke."
"Try to breathe slowly and calm yourself down."
"She breathed in the fresh mountain air."
2
To pause briefly to rest or recover.
"After weeks of deadlines, we finally have a chance to breathe."
"Give me a moment to breathe before we start the next chapter."
"Let the team breathe for a minute before the next drill."
3
To say something very quietly, almost as a whisper.
""Stay quiet," she breathed, pulling the curtain aside."
"He could only breathe a few words of thanks before the tears came."
"He breathed her name as he drifted off to sleep."
How to use breathe
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo take air in and out of the lungs — or figuratively, to pause and rest, or to whisper something softly.
Common mistake
Breathe is the verb; breath is the noun. "I need to breath" is a common misspelling — it should be "I need to breathe."
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- breathes
- Past tense
- breathed
- Archaic forms
- breathest, breathedst, breatheth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The swimmer turned her head to _____ after every third stroke.
Etymology
From Middle English brethen, derived from breth ("breath").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for breathe
See all rhymes for breathe →Frequently asked questions
What does “breathe” mean?
The word “breathe” means to draw air into the lungs and expel it. In plain terms, to take air in and out of the lungs — or figuratively, to pause and rest, or to whisper something softly.
How do you pronounce “breathe”?
“Breathe” is pronounced breeth (/bɹið/ in IPA).
How do you use “breathe” in a sentence?
Here is “breathe” used in a sentence: “Try to breathe slowly and calm yourself down.”
What is another word for “breathe”?
Words with a similar meaning to “breathe” include live and breathe, draw breath, inbreathe, spire and suspire.
What is the opposite of “breathe”?
The opposite of “breathe” — its antonyms — are choke, asphyxiate, hold one's breath and suffocate.
What part of speech is “breathe”?
“Breathe” is a verb.
Where does the word “breathe” come from?
The word “breathe” comes from Middle English. From Middle English brethen, derived from breth ("breath").
Is “breathe” a common word?
“Breathe” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between 'breathe' and 'breath'?
'Breathe' is the verb, meaning to draw air into the lungs and expel it, as in 'try to breathe slowly.' 'Breath' is the noun that refers to the air itself or a single act of breathing, as in 'take a deep breath.' The verb has an 'e' on the end and rhymes with 'seethe,' while the noun rhymes with 'death.'
When should you use 'breathe in' versus 'breathe out'?
'Breathe in' means to inhale, drawing air into the lungs, while 'breathe out' means to exhale, pushing it back out. Both are natural, everyday phrasings, and you can also say 'breathe deeply' to describe full, slow breaths that help you rest or recover.
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