breath
noun
\ ˈbreth
\
\
Definition of breath
1a
: air filled with a fragrance or odor
b
: a slight indication : suggestion
the faintest breath of scandal
2a
: the faculty of breathing
recovering his breath after the race
b
: an act of breathing
fought to the last breath
3
: a slight breeze
4a
: air inhaled and exhaled in breathing
bad breath
b
: something (such as moisture on a cold surface) produced by breath or breathing
c
: inhalation
5
: a spoken sound : utterance
breath of fresh air
in one breath
or in the same breath
out of breath
under one's breath
: a welcome or refreshing change
: almost simultaneously
: breathing very rapidly (as from strenuous exercise)
: so as to be barely audible
mumbled something under his breath
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Synonyms for breath
Synonyms
break, breather, interruption, lull, pause, recess
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Examples of breath in a Sentence
When Oscar Wilde allegedly gestured at the garish wallpaper in his cheap Parisian hotel room and announced with his dying breath, "Either it goes or I go," he was exhibiting something beyond an irrepressibly brilliant wit.
— Tom Robbins, Harper's, September 2004
I ski as far as I can and stop (in these relatively low-altitude coastal mountains, you don't stop for breath the way you sometimes do in Colorado; here you stop when your legs demand a break) …
— Lito Tejada-Flores, Skiing, February 1999
gum that freshens your breath
It's so cold outside that I can see my breath.
My mad dash for the bus left me gasping for breath.
I took a long breath before speaking again.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Don’t hold your breath Even though plant photosynthesis is ultimately responsible for breathable oxygen, only a vanishingly tiny fraction of that plant growth actually adds to the store of oxygen in the air. — Scott Denning, Scientific American, "Destructive Amazon Fires Do Not Threaten Earth’s Oxygen, Expert Says," 27 Aug. 2019 In a time when more and more news reports are being released about the doom of the earth while governments and conglomerates are doing little to solve the problem, Taymour’s declaration and presentation was a breath of fresh air. — Sara Radin, Teen Vogue, "Collina Strada's NYFW 2019 Runway Show Was All About Saving The Earth," 9 Sep. 2019 In the space of ten minutes, Scarborough went from being a steady font of right-wing outrage and hostility, to being fulsomely embraced as a breath of fresh air on cable news. — Alex Pareene, The New Republic, "Joe Walsh Is Running for “Morning Joe”," 29 Aug. 2019 Midway between the Duomo and Santa Croce, this is a breath of fresh air in the heart of town. — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, "These 6 European Apartments Are Basically Private Design Hotels," 23 Aug. 2019 Gadot was out of breath by the time an immense wall of boulders appeared on our left and the tunnel opened up into an underground chamber, with orange lights casting a soft glow over the stones. — Rachel Poser, Harper's magazine, "Common Ground," 19 Aug. 2019 Even with all that, Emma, who is effectively the lead protagonist, is a breath of fresh air. — Michael Moore, The Verge, "The Best Anime of 2019: an ongoing list," 16 Aug. 2019 The bodies are all natural, the orgasms are all real, and the site is truly a breath of fresh air. — The Editors, Marie Claire, "The Hottest Porn for Women on the Internet," 13 Aug. 2019 Palmer, who turns 26 next month, will definitely add a breath of fresh air and a dose of #BlackGirlMagic to the daytime TV lineup. — Kimberly Wilson, Essence, "Keke Palmer To Add Dose of Black Girl Magic To ‘Strahan and Sara’ As Third Co-Host," 1 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'breath.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for breath
breath
noun
English Language Learners Definition of breath
: the air that you take into your lungs and send out from your lungs when you breathe : air that is inhaled and exhaled in breathing
: the ability to breathe freely
: an amount of air that you take into your lungs
See the full definition for breath in the English Language Learners Dictionary
breath
noun
\ ˈbreth
\
\
Kids Definition of breath
1
: ability to breathe : ease of breathing
I lost my breath for a moment.
2
: air taken in or sent out by the lungs
Hold your breath. It's so cold I can see my breath.
3
: a slight breeze
a breath of wind
out of breath
under someone's breath
: breathing very rapidly as a result of hard exercise
: very quietly
“Don't blow this for me,” Dad said under his breath.— Jack Gantos, Joey Pigza Loses Control
breath
noun
\ ˈbreth
\
\
Medical Definition of breath
1a