Dictionary

breathe en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /bɹið/ (Canada, General-American)
• /bɹiːð/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /bɹiːv/ th-fronting
• brēth (Received-Pronunciation)
• (California) audio
• /bɹiːð/ (Australia, New-Zealand)

Etymology

From Middle English brethen (“to breathe, blow, exhale, odour”), derived from Middle English breth (“breath”). Eclipsed Middle English ethien and orðiæn, from Old English ēþian and orþian (“to breathe”); as well as Middle English anden, onden, from Old Norse anda (“to breathe”). More at breath.

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To draw air into (inhale), and expel air from (exhale), the lungs in order to extract oxygen and excrete waste gases.
2. (intransitive) To take in needed gases and expel waste gases in a similar way.
   • Fish have gills so they can breathe underwater.
3. (transitive) To inhale (a gas) to sustain life.
   • While life as we know it depends on oxygen, scientists have speculated that alien life forms might breathe chlorine or methane.
4. (figuratively, intransitive) To live.
   • Breathes there a man with soul so dead? 1805, Walter Scott, “(please specify the page)”, in The Lay of the Last Minstrel: A Poem, London: […] [James Ballantyne] for Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, […], and A[rchibald] Constable and Co., […], →OCLC:
   • I am in health, I breathe. 1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
   • I will not allow it, as long as I still breathe.
5. (transitive) To draw something into the lungs.
   • Try not to breathe too much smoke.
6. (intransitive) To expel air from the lungs, exhale.
   • If you breathe on a mirror, it will fog up.
7. (transitive) To exhale or expel (something) in the manner of breath.
   • Mountain Drakes breathe fire, Ice Drakes breathe ice, Swamp Drakes breathe acid, and Forest Drakes breathe lightning. 2012, Timothy Groves, The Book Of Creatures, →ISBN, page 85:
   • The flowers breathed a heady perfume.
8. (transitive) To give an impression of, to exude.
   • The decor positively breathes classical elegance.
9. (transitive) To whisper quietly.
   • He breathed the words into her ear, but she understood them all.
10. To pass like breath; noiselessly or gently; to emanate; to blow gently.
    • There breathes a living fragrance from the shore. 1812–1818, Lord Byron, “(please specify |canto=I to IV)”, in Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. A Romaunt, London: […] [F]or John Murray, […]; William Blackwood, Edinburgh; and John Cumming, Dublin; by Thomas Davison, […], →OCLC, (please specify the stanza number):
    • The air breathes upon us here most sweetly. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
    • The wind breathes through the trees.
11. (qualifier:chiefly Evangelical and Charismatic Christianity, with God as agent) To inspire (scripture).
    • […] that God, who breathed the Scriptures, "cannot lie," […] 1917, J. C. Ferdinand Pittman, Bible Truths Illustrated: For the Use of Preachers, Teachers, Bible-school, Christian Endeavor, Temperance and Other Christian Workers, page 168:
    • Paul says that since God breathed the Scriptures, they are therefore useful; he did not put it the other way around (i.e., that they are useful, therefore inspired). 2010, Jay E. Adams, The Christian Counselor's Manual: The Practice of Nouthetic Counseling, Zondervan, →ISBN:
    • The affirmation before us, then, will be, "All scripture is divinely breathed." 1850, John Howard Hinton, On the Divine Inspiration of the Scriptures. A lecture, etc, page 16:
12. (intransitive) To exchange gases with the environment.
    • Uncork the wine and leave it on the table for a few minutes to allow it to breathe.
13. (intransitive) Of a material etc., to allow gases to pass through.
    • Garments made of certain new materials breathe well and keep the skin relatively dry during exercise.
14. (archaic, intransitive) To rest; to stop and catch one's breath.
    • Well! breathe awhile, and then to it again! c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]:
    • Thenne they lasshed to gyder many sad strokes / & tracyd and trauercyd now bakward / now sydelyng hurtlyng to gyders lyke two bores / & that same tyme they felle both grouelyng to the erthe / Thus they fought styll withoute ony reposynge two houres and neuer brethed 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “lxiiij”, in Le Morte Darthur, book X:
15. (transitive) To stop, to give (a horse) an opportunity to catch its breath.
    • At higher altitudes you need to breathe your horse more often.
16. (transitive) To exercise; to tire by brisk exercise.
17. (figuratively, transitive) To passionately devote much of one's life to (an activity, etc.).
    • ―Do you like hiking? ―Are you kidding? I breathe hiking.

Forms

Antonyms

asphyxiate · hold one's breath · suffocate · choke

Deriveds

breathe upon · underbreathe · breathing spell · fire-breathing · nonbreathing · bum-breathing · breathe freely · embreathe · breathable · airbreathing · overbreathe · breathe a sigh of relief · breathing gas · breathe easy · mouth-breathe · rebreathe · breathe one's last · breathing room · breathe down someone's neck · breathability · breathe in · upbreathe · outbreathe · breathing space · overbreathed · unbreathed · stagger breathe · breather · as I live and breathe · misbreathe · breathe out · imbreathe · breathe again · unbreathing · breathe back to life · buddy breathe · breathe new life into · inbreathe · breathe a word · breathingly · breathe one's last breath

Hypernyms

respire

Hyponyms

take a breath · sob · snuff · expire · outbreathe · puff · whiffle · pant · breathe in · hyperventilate · cough · suck · hypoventilate · huff · hiccup · blow · whiff · snuffle · aspirate · sigh · imbreathe · inspire · gulp · inhale · wheeze · sneeze · breathe out · sniff · sniffle · breathe hard · gasp · snort · exhale

Relateds

bad breath · and sleep · breath · breathe down someone's neck · with bated breath · in the same breath · breathe easy · catch one's breath · breathe a sigh of relief · stop for breath · waste breath · breathable · don't hold your breath · as I live and breathe · exhalation · inhalation · take one's breath away · eat · draw one's last breath · under one's breath · breathability · shortness of breath · pause for breath · respiration · save one's breath · out of breath · breathe a word

Synonyms

suspire · breathe · respire (to draw air or other gases in and out) · live and breathe (to be passionate about) · draw breath · spire · inbreathe

Translations (304)

nl uitademen (to expel air from the lungs) · pl oddychać swobodnie (figuratively: to live) · hu belélegez (to use gas to sustain life) · qu samay (to stop and catch one's breath) · fi hengittää (to exchange gases with the environment) · kl anersaarpoq (to draw air in and out) · ro respira (to draw air in and out) · ceb ginhawa (to draw air in and out) · he נשם (to draw into lungs) · tk dem almak (to draw air in and out) · ast respirar (to draw air in and out) · hil ginhawa (to draw air in and out) · lad respirar (to draw air in and out) · cic foyopa (to draw air in and out) · sv andas (figuratively: to live) · nl asemen (to draw air in and out) · frr öösme (to draw air in and out) · th หายใจ (to draw air in and out) · ru вы́дохнуть (to expel air from the lungs) · ln kopema (to draw air in and out) · fy sykhelje (to draw air in and out) · tl huminga (to draw air in and out) · sl vdihniti (to draw into lungs) · cic foyopa (to draw into lungs) · pag linawa (to draw air in and out) · km ដកដង្ហើម (to draw air in and out) · war ginhawa (to draw air in and out) · tr solumak (to draw air in and out) · no puste (to draw air in and out) · fi henkäillä (to pass like breath) · mi ānene (to draw air in and out) · gl folguexar (to draw air in and out) · nl ademen (to draw air in and out) · da ånde (to draw air in and out) · ru дыша́ть (to draw air in and out) · cmn 吸 (to draw air in and out) · kjb jiq’a’ (to draw air in and out) · sl dahniti (to whisper quietly) · ang ēþian (to draw air in and out) · sw -pumua (to draw air in and out) · osp respirar (to draw air in and out) · hu áraszt (to give an impression of) · hu susog (to pass like breath) · ms bernafas (to draw air in and out) · vo natemön (to draw air in and out) · ru излуча́ть (to give an impression of) · nb puste ut (to stop and catch one's breath) · lv elpot (to draw air in and out) · roa-tar respirà (to draw air in and out) · pt murmurar (to whisper quietly) · hu ráfúj (to expel air from the lungs) · ru вдохну́ть (to draw into lungs) · ta சுவாசி (to draw air in and out) · ca alenar (to draw air in and out) · hu lehel (to expel air from the lungs) · vi thở (to draw air in and out) · cu дꙑхати (to draw air in and out) · hu beszív (to draw into lungs) · pt cochichar (to whisper quietly) · sk dýchať (figuratively: to live) · sk oddychovať (to stop and catch one's breath) · la spīrō (to draw air in and out) · krj ginhawa (to draw air in and out) · ne सास फेर्नु (to draw air in and out) · id bernafas (to draw air in and out) · hi सांस लेना (to draw air in and out) · hu él (figuratively: to live) · fi hengittää (to exchange gases in similar way) · nb trekke pusten (to stop and catch one's breath) · sk vydychovať (to expel air from the lungs) · mww ua pa (to draw air in and out) · nds aten (to draw air in and out) · ga riospráid (to draw air in and out) · tyz au châư (to draw air in and out) · fr reprendre son souffle (to stop and catch one's breath) · sh dihati (to draw air in and out) · ug نەپەس ئالماق (to draw air in and out) · ru дыша́ть (to give an impression of) · ja 吸い込む (to draw air in and out) · ms bernyawa (figuratively: to live) · uz nafas olmoq (to draw air in and out) · tyv тынар (to draw air in and out) · kk дем алу (to draw air in and out) · hu kifúj (to expel air from the lungs) · cic foyopa (to use gas to sustain life) · hu kilélegez (to expel air from the lungs) · cic foyopa (to stop and catch one's breath) · ps ساکښل (to draw air in and out) · ab аԥсыԥлагаҩагара (to draw air in and out) · os улӕфын (to draw air in and out) · hu belélegez (to draw into lungs) · de hauchen (to whisper quietly) · ta மூச்சுவிடு (to draw air in and out) · ru существова́ть (figuratively: to live) · pap respirá (to draw air in and out) · ja 吸い込む (to draw into lungs) · cmn 呼吸 (to draw air in and out) · bcl hangos (to draw air in and out) · lzz შვანუმს (to draw air in and out) · hu kilehel (to expel air from the lungs) · io respirar (to draw air in and out) · hu sugároz (to give an impression of) · da trække vejret (to draw air in and out) · my ရှူ (to draw air in and out) · bo དབུགས་རྒྱག (to draw air in and out) · sv hämta andan (to stop and catch one's breath) · hu lélegzik (to exchange gases with the environment) · sv viska (to whisper quietly) · it respirare (to draw air in and out) · pl odetchnąć (to draw air in and out) · bg вдъхвам (to draw into lungs) · yi אָטעמען (to draw air in and out) · hy շնչել (to draw air in and out) · is anda (to draw air in and out) · ca respirar (to exchange gases in similar way) · nl ademhalen (to draw air in and out) · ru выдыха́ть (to expel air from the lungs) · fi hengittää (to expel air from the lungs) · svs azeaze (to draw air in and out) · sh disati (to draw air in and out) · ja ささやく (to whisper quietly) · sk dýchať (to draw air in and out) · mam xewil (to draw air in and out) · rap haa (to draw air in and out) · ug نەپەسلەنمەك (to draw air in and out) · gl respirar (to draw air in and out) · ga análaigh (to draw air in and out) · rup adilju (to draw air in and out) · pt respirar (to draw air in and out) · eo spiri (to draw air in and out) · hu súg (to whisper quietly) · sk vdychovať (to draw into lungs) · se vuoiŋŋadit (to draw air in and out) · es respirar (to draw air in and out) · si හුස්ම ගන්නවා (to draw air in and out) · ru дыша́ть (to pass like breath) · fi hengittää (to draw into lungs) · dsb dychaś (to draw air in and out) · ja 呼吸する (to exchange gases in similar way) · nl asemhalen (to draw air in and out) · nl ademen (to whisper quietly) · fr respirer (to exchange gases in similar way) · no ånde (to draw air in and out) · pt respirar (to stop and catch one's breath) · he נשם (to exchange gases in similar way) · fi antaa hengähtää (to give an opportunity to catch breath) · de atmen (to draw air in and out) · mn амьсгалах (to draw air in and out) · ru вдыха́ть (to draw into lungs) · sh дисати (to draw air in and out) · itz mus ikʼ (to draw air in and out) · ota صولومق (to draw air in and out) · ja 生きる (figuratively: to live) · gl alentar (to draw air in and out) · mi ngā (to draw air in and out) · pap hala rosea (to draw air in and out) · aii ܢܵܦ̮ܹܫ (to draw air in and out) · sv pusta ut (to stop and catch one's breath) · pt respirar (to draw into lungs) · sk dýchať (to use gas to sustain life) · cy anadlu (to draw into lungs) · de einatmen (to draw into lungs) · so neefsasho (to draw air in and out) · ru изрыга́ть (to pass like breath) · ar تَنَفَّسَ (to draw air in and out) · hu levegőt vesz (to draw air in and out) · bg вдишвам (to draw into lungs) · hu lélegzik (to exchange gases in similar way) · pt resfolegar (to stop and catch one's breath) · et hingama (to draw air in and out) · bg съществувам (figuratively: to live) · ru шепта́ть (to whisper quietly) · nrf respither (to draw air in and out) · ru дать переды́шку (to give an opportunity to catch breath) · sh дихати (to draw air in and out) · hu szusszan (to stop and catch one's breath) · pt respirar (to exchange gases in similar way) · wa respirer (to draw air in and out) · ru дыша́ть (to use gas to sustain life) · cy anadlu (to exchange gases in similar way) · mnc ᡝᡵᡤᡝᠨ ᡤᠠᡳᠮᠪᡳ (to draw air in and out) · sk oddýchnuť si (to stop and catch one's breath) · sk vyžarovať (to give an impression of) · mk дише (to draw air in and out) · pl szeptać (to whisper quietly) · grc πνέω (to draw air in and out) · akl ginhawa (to draw air in and out) · uk ди́хати (to draw air in and out) · sk dýchať (to exchange gases with the environment) · fr respirer (to draw air in and out) · sv andas (to draw air in and out) · myv лексемс (to draw air in and out) · fa نفس کشیدن (to draw air in and out) · la respīrō (to draw air in and out) · hu belehel (to draw into lungs) · ka სუნთქვა (to draw air in and out) · sv andas in (to draw into lungs) · ja 息をする (to draw air in and out) · ca respirar (to draw air in and out) · tzm ⵙⵙⵓⵏⴼⵙ (to draw air in and out) · fr inspirer (to draw air in and out) · sk dýchnuť (to expel air from the lungs) · sm mānava (to draw air in and out) · ru жить (figuratively: to live) · udm шоканы (to draw air in and out) · gl bafexar (to draw air in and out) · ilo aganges (to draw air in and out) · pt sussurrar (to whisper quietly) · ja 呼吸する (to draw air in and out) · nrf respither (to exchange gases in similar way) · bn শ্বাস ফেলা (to draw air in and out) · hu rálehel (to expel air from the lungs) · fi hengittää (to use gas to sustain life) · zea aeseme (to draw air in and out) · fr expirer (to draw air in and out) · it respirare (to exchange gases in similar way) · ru пове́ять (to exchange gases with the environment) · ru ве́ять (to exchange gases with the environment) · chr ᎧᏬᎳᏕᎠ (to draw air in and out) · hu életben van (figuratively: to live) · sk vdýchnuť (to draw into lungs) · qu samay (to draw into lungs) · rm respirar (to draw air in and out) · hu odavan ((figurative) to be passionately devoted to) · hu lélegzik (to draw air in and out) · sk uvoľňovať (to pass like breath) · sk vydýchnuť (to expel air from the lungs) · qu mutkhiy (to draw into lungs) · sk nadýchnuť sa (to draw into lungs) · sq marr frymë (to draw air in and out) · mi whakangā (to draw air in and out) · srn bro (to draw air in and out) · bg живея (figuratively: to live) · sk šepkať (to whisper quietly) · ur سانس لینا (to draw air in and out) · la hālō (to draw air in and out) · ko 마시다 (to draw air in and out) · pl wdychać (to draw into lungs) · av хӏухьел цӏазе (to draw air in and out) · cs dýchat (to draw air in and out) · unm lèxe (to draw air in and out) · lb ootmen (to draw air in and out) · as উশাহ লোৱা (to draw air in and out) · fo anda (to draw air in and out) · rup suflu (to draw air in and out) · fi henkiä (to give an impression of) · tr nefes alıp vermek (to draw air in and out) · ang orþian (to draw air in and out) · fi hengittää ulos (to expel air from the lungs) · ky дем алуу (to draw air in and out) · lt kvėpuoti (to draw air in and out) · ja （…に）熱中する ((figurative) to be passionately devoted to) · ru изрыгну́ть (to pass like breath) · fi hengittää (to draw air in and out) · sl dihati (figuratively: to live) · ace naphah (to draw air in and out) · pl oddychać (to exchange gases in similar way) · cy anadlu (to draw air in and out) · ja 吐く (to draw air in and out) · frm respirer (to draw air in and out) · hu lélegzetet vesz (to draw air in and out) · sl dihati (to draw air in and out) · af asem (to draw air in and out) · ko 숨을 쉬다 (to draw air in and out) · ce садеӏа (to draw air in and out) · sk nadýchať sa (to draw into lungs) · pl oddychać (to draw air in and out) · el αναπνέω (to draw air in and out) · fi kuiskata hiljaa (to whisper quietly) · ru перевести́ дух (to stop and catch one's breath) · hu imád ((figurative) to be passionately devoted to) · sv andas (to exchange gases in similar way) · pt respirar (figuratively: to live) · es respirar (to exchange gases in similar way) · tg нафас кашидан (to draw air in and out) · su ambekan (to draw air in and out) · he נָשַׁם (to draw air in and out) · az nəfəs almaq (to draw air in and out) · nl inademen (to draw into lungs) · sk dýchať (to exchange gases in similar way) · ko 호흡(呼吸)하다 (to draw air in and out) · fro respirer (to draw air in and out) · fi elää ja hengittää ((figurative) to be passionately devoted to) · csb dëchac (to draw air in and out) · ru дыша́ть (to exchange gases in similar way) · fi hengittää sisään (to draw into lungs) · lo ຫາຍໃຈ (to draw air in and out) · ms hirup (to draw air in and out) · oc respirar (to draw air in and out) · be ды́хаць (to draw air in and out) · vi hô hấp (to draw air in and out) · bg ди́шам (to draw air in and out) · sl dihati (to exchange gases in similar way) · pam isnaua (to draw air in and out) · fi hengittää (figuratively: to live) · bg промълвям (to whisper quietly) · bn দম নেওয়া (to draw air in and out) · hu lehel (to whisper quietly) · ko 숨쉬다 (to draw air in and out) · hu levegőzik (to exchange gases with the environment) · af asemhaal (to draw air in and out) · fi hengähtää (to stop and catch one's breath) · frr locht haale (to draw air in and out) · za diemheiq (to draw air in and out)