verb
exhale
ehks-HAYL
Exhale (verb) means to breathe out; to push air out of the lungs. Example: “She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.”
verb
1
To breathe out; to push air out of the lungs.
"She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled."
"He exhaled a cloud of smoke into the cold night air."
How to use exhale
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo breathe out, or to send something like smoke or vapor out into the air.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
inhale and exhale
exhale slowly
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Word forms
- Plural
- exhales
- Third person singular
- exhales
- Past tense
- exhaled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She took a deep breath and slowly _____.
Etymology
From Latin exhalare, "to breathe out" — ex- plus halare ("to breathe").
Related words
Rhymes for exhale
See all rhymes for exhale →Frequently asked questions
What does “exhale” mean?
The word “exhale” means to breathe out; to push air out of the lungs. In plain terms, to breathe out, or to send something like smoke or vapor out into the air.
How do you pronounce “exhale”?
“Exhale” is pronounced ehks-HAYL (/ˌɛksˈheɪ̯l/ in IPA).
How do you use “exhale” in a sentence?
Here is “exhale” used in a sentence: “She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.”
What is another word for “exhale”?
Words with a similar meaning to “exhale” include emanate, emit and expel.
What is the opposite of “exhale”?
The opposite of “exhale” — its antonyms — are inbreathe, breathe in, inhale and inspire.
What part of speech is “exhale”?
“Exhale” is a verb.
Where does the word “exhale” come from?
The word “exhale” comes from Latin. From Latin exhalare, "to breathe out" — ex- plus halare ("to breathe").
