verb C2 Proficient

wheeze

eez

Wheeze (verb) means to breathe with difficulty, making a rough whistling sound, often due to a respiratory problem. Example: “He wheezed his way up the stairs after the flu.”

verb

To breathe with difficulty, making a rough whistling sound, often due to a respiratory problem.

"He wheezed his way up the stairs after the flu."

"The old dog wheezed softly in its sleep."

noun

A whistling, rasping sound made when breathing with difficulty.

"You could hear the wheeze in her chest through the stethoscope."

How to use wheeze

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA rough, whistling sound made when breathing is difficult, often linked to asthma or a cold.

Common pairings

wheeze and cough a chesty wheeze

Word forms

wheezed past tense, wheezes plural, wheezes singular

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He _____ his way up the stairs after the flu.

Etymology

From Middle English whesen, possibly from an Old Norse word meaning "to hiss," tracing back to a root meaning "to pant."

Origin: Middle English

Rhymes for wheeze

freeze breeze sneeze squeeze trapeze unfreeze antifreeze

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Frequently asked questions

What does “wheeze” mean?

The word “wheeze” means to breathe with difficulty, making a rough whistling sound, often due to a respiratory problem. In plain terms, a rough, whistling sound made when breathing is difficult, often linked to asthma or a cold.

How do you pronounce “wheeze”?

“Wheeze” is pronounced eez (/ʍiːz/ in IPA).

How do you use “wheeze” in a sentence?

Here is “wheeze” used in a sentence: “He wheezed his way up the stairs after the flu.”

What part of speech is “wheeze”?

Depending on how it is used, “wheeze” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “wheeze” come from?

The word “wheeze” comes from Middle English. From Middle English whesen, possibly from an Old Norse word meaning "to hiss," tracing back to a root meaning "to pant.".

How many meanings does “wheeze” have?

“Wheeze” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to breathe with difficulty, making a rough whistling sound, often due to a respiratory problem.

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