Dictionary

sigh en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• sī
• /saɪ/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Middle English sighen (“to sigh”), back-formation from sighte, past tense form of siken, from Old English sīcan, from Proto-West Germanic *sīkan, perhaps ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *seykʷ- (“to pour out”).

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it; to make a deep single audible respiration, especially as the result or involuntary expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, frustration, or the like.
   • A waiter brought his aperitif, which was a small scotch and soda, and as he sipped it gratefully he sighed. ‘Civilized,’ he said to Mr. Campion. ‘Humanizing.’ […] ‘Cigars and summer days and women in big hats with swansdown face-powder, that's what it reminds me of.’ 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 5, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
   • He sighed. It was going to be a long night.
   • When she saw it wasn't damaged, she sighed with relief.
   • He sighed over the lost opportunity.
2. (intransitive) To lament; to grieve.
   • He sighed deeply in his spirit. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Mark 8:12:
3. (transitive) To utter sighs over; to lament or mourn over.
   • Ages to come, and men unborn, / Shall bless her name, and sigh her fate. 1695, Matthew Prior, An ode presented to the king, on His Majesty's arrival in Holland, after the Queen's death:
   • In Lisbon, Queen Luisa, who had sighed so long for a French marriage, declared that an angel from heaven could not have brought better news. 1966, H. V. Livermore, A New History of Portugal, page 191:
   • The lassie had grace given her to refuse, but with a woeful heart, and Heriotside rode off in black discontent, leaving poor Ailie to sigh her love. He came back the next day and the next, but aye he got the same answer. 1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:
4. (intransitive) To make a sound like sighing.
   • The winter winds are wearily sighing. 1832 December (indicated as 1833), Alfred Tennyson, “The Death of the Old Year”, in Poems, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:
   • And the coming wind did roar more loud, / And the sails did sigh like sedge. 1797–1798 (date written), [Samuel Taylor Coleridge], “The Rime of the Ancyent Marinere”, in Lyrical Ballads, with a Few Other Poems, London: […] J[ohn] & A[rthur] Arch, […], published 1798, →OCLC:
   • The wind sighed in the trees.
5. (transitive) To exhale (the breath) in sighs.
   • She sighed a sigh that was nearly a groan.
   • sigh a note and sing a note
   • Never man sighed truer breath. c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene v]:
   • She sighed her relief when she found her missing toddler.
6. (transitive) To express by sighs; to utter in or with sighs.
   • "I guess I have no choice," she sighed.
   • The gentle swain […] sighs back her grief. 1763, Torquato Tasso, translated by John Hoole, Jerusalem Delivered:
   • She sighed her frustrations.
   • They […] sighed forth proverbs. c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:

Forms

Deriveds

besigh · sigher · outsigh

Synonyms

moan · sigh · sithe · beweep · grieven · bemoan · sorrow · condole · regret · bleed · lament · sithe · wayment · suspire · gloom · yearn · mourn · yearn · grieve · grieven · bewail · sigh · darken · sithe · erme · sithe · becry · begrieve · remorse · wail · aggrieve · mean · lament · mourn · sorrow · repent · grieve · engrieve · condole · besorrow · grieve · pine · rue · deplore · elegize · repent · afterthink · bemourn · sithe · sithe · lament · keen · wayment

Translations (156)

eo suspiri (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · es suspirar (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · th ถอนใจ (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · kk күрсіну (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · ar تَنَهَّدَ (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · fi huokaista (to make a sound like sighing) · sk vzdychať (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · el αναστενάζω (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · lo ຖອນໃຈ (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · sv sucka (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · no sukke (to make a sound like sighing) · izh ohkaa (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · pt suspirar (to exhale in sighs) · is dæsa (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · ta பெருமூச்சுவிடு (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · nl zuchten (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · mk воздивне (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · ru вздыха́ть (to make a sound like sighing) · mk воздивнува (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · mr सुस्कारा टाकणे (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · rup suschir (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · lv nopūsties (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · az köks ötürmək (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · sh узда̀хнути (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · cmn 嘆氣 /叹气 (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · bg въздъхна (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · fur suspirâ (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · tg оҳ кашидан (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · bg въздишам (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · it sospirare (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · cs vzdychat (to make a sound like sighing) · uz xoʻrsinmoq (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · az nəfəs almaq (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · tr ah etmek (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · ru вздохну́ть (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · ka ამოსუნთქვა (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · sh у̀здисати (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · rm suspirer (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · tr ahlamak (to make a sound like sighing) · sl vzdihniti (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · ru вздохну́ть (to exhale in sighs) · sh uzdàhnuti (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · sl vzdihovati (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · la suspiro (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · vi thở dài (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · ru вздыха́ть (to express by sighs; to utter in or with sighs) · fr soupirer (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · ru вздохну́ть (to make a sound like sighing) · mk воздивнува (to exhale in sighs) · izh ohkia (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · ckb ئاخ ھەڵکێشان (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · fi huokaista (to experience an emotion associated with sighing) · uk зітхну́ти (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · ru вздыха́ть (to lament; to grieve) · mi harapuka (to lament; to grieve) · nrf soupither (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · be уздыхну́ць (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · tr of çekmek (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · te నిట్టూర్చు (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · pt suspirar (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · fi huoata (to make a sound like sighing) · fr soupirer (to lament; to grieve) · av хӏухьел цӏазе (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · ta பெருமூச்சுவிடு (to exhale in sighs) · af sug (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · fi huoata (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · uz nafas olmoq (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · os улӕфын (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · mnc ᠰᡝᠵᡳᠯᡝᠮᠪᡳ (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · hy հոգոց հանել (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · got 𐌲𐌰𐍃𐍅𐍉𐌲𐌾𐌰𐌽 (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · no sukke (to exhale in sighs) · sk vzdychnúť (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · pt suspirar (to make a sound like sighing) · ky күрсүнүү (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · hi आह भरना (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · cs vzdychnout (to make a sound like sighing) · hu sóhajt (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · tg нафас кашидан (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · mi nguru (to make a sound like sighing) · pl westchnąć (to utter sighs over; to lament or mourn over) · mi harapuka (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · rm suspirar (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · fi huoata (to experience an emotion associated with sighing) · et ohkama (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · mi kutare (to lament; to grieve) · izh hoovvata (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · no sukke (to express by sighs; to utter in or with sighs) · ro suspina (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · fi huokailla (to exhale in sighs) · pl wzdychać (to utter sighs over; to lament or mourn over) · ab аԥсыԥ алагара (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · fi huokailla (to express by sighs; to utter in or with sighs) · cs vzdychnout (to lament; to grieve) · ru вздыха́ть (to exhale in sighs) · tr iç çekmek (to exhale in sighs) · vec sospirar (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · yi זיפֿצן (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · ur آہ بھرنا (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · ang sīcan (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · fi huokaista (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · sq psherėtij (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · hy հառաչել (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · fur sustâ (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · he נאנח (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · uk здиха́ти (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · pl wzdychać (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · ckb ئاخ ھەڵکێشان (to lament; to grieve) · ko 한숨짓다 (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · bg въздъ́хвам (to utter sighs over; to lament or mourn over) · sh ùzdisati (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · uk здихну́ти (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · az ah çəkmək (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · nb sukke (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · fi huokailla (to utter sighs over; to lament or mourn over) · pl lamentować (to lament; to grieve) · cs vzdychat (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · ru вздохну́ть (to lament; to grieve) · cy ochneidio (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · de seufzen (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · grc ἄζω (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · ga osna a ligean (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · lt atsidusti (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · ckb ئاخ ھەڵکێشان (to express by sighs; to utter in or with sighs) · uk зітха́ти (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · cs vzdychnout (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · ta புலம்பு (to lament; to grieve) · ja ため息をつく (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · bg въздъхвам (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · fro souspirer (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · bg въздъ́хна (to utter sighs over; to lament or mourn over) · fr lamenter (to lament; to grieve) · be уздыха́ць (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · mi pūhoto (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · cmn 嘆息 /叹息 (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · cs vzdychat (to lament; to grieve) · fa آه کشیدن (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · es suspirar (to lament; to grieve) · rm suspürar (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · ckb ئاخ ھەڵکێشان (to exhale in sighs) · ckb ئاخ ھەڵکێشان (to make a sound like sighing) · ca sospirar (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · bg възди́шам (to utter sighs over; to lament or mourn over) · da sukke (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · ko 한숨을 쉬다 (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · fi huoata (to lament; to grieve) · grc στενάζω (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · pl westchnąć (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · ru вздыха́ть (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · uk зітха́ти (to lament; to grieve) · mn шүүрс алдах (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · my ဟင်းချ့ (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · ru вздохну́ть (to express by sighs; to utter in or with sighs) · ja 嘆く (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it) · de seufzen (to make a sound like sighing) · ja 嘆息する (to inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it)

sigh en · INTJ · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• sī
• /saɪ/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Middle English sighe (“sigh”), from sighen (“to sigh”) (see ).

Meanings

1. An expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, frustration, or the like, often used in casual written contexts.
   • Sigh, I'm so bored at work today.

Translations (14)

tl hay (expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, frustration or the like) · ja やれやれ (expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, frustration or the like) · ru ах (expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, frustration or the like) · fi huoh (expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, frustration or the like) · sv suck (expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, frustration or the like) · nl zucht (expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, frustration or the like) · uk ох (expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, frustration or the like) · ta ஷப்பா (expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, frustration or the like) · pl ech (expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, frustration or the like) · ru эх (expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, frustration or the like) · ru ох (expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, frustration or the like) · fi ohhoijaa (expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, frustration or the like) · cmn 唉 (expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, frustration or the like) · ta யப்பா (expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, frustration or the like)

sigh en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• sī
• /saɪ/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Middle English sighe (“sigh”), from sighen (“to sigh”) (see ).

Meanings

1. A deep, prolonged audible inhale and exhale of breath; as when fatigued, frustrated, grieved, or relieved; the act of sighing.
   • To Pollyanna the air was all the more stifling after that cool breath of the out of doors; but she did not complain. She only drew a long quivering sigh. 1913, Eleanor H. Porter, chapter 7, in Pollyanna, L.C. Page, →OCLC:
2. (figuratively) a manifestation of grief; a lament.
3. (Cockney, slang) A person who is bored.

Forms

Deriveds

yawn-sigh · sigh of relief · sighful · le sigh · sighless · sighlike

Translations (100)

sk vzdych (act of sighing) · cy ochenaid (act of sighing) · sh ȕzdāh (act of sighing) · he אֲנָחָה (act of sighing) · ab аԥсыԥ алагара (act of sighing) · ga ochlán (act of sighing) · fi huokaus (manifestation of grief; a lament) · pt suspiro (manifestation of grief; a lament) · fro sospir (act of sighing) · pt suspiro (act of sighing) · is stuna (act of sighing) · ms mengeluh (act of sighing) · fa آه (act of sighing) · el αναστεναγμός (act of sighing) · nb sukk (act of sighing) · fi huoahdus (act of sighing) · sl vzdih (act of sighing) · mr सुस्कारा (act of sighing) · ja 嘆息 (act of sighing) · es suspiro (act of sighing) · it sospiro (act of sighing) · ta புலம்பல் (manifestation of grief; a lament) · tl hay (act of sighing) · uz nafas (act of sighing) · gd osna (act of sighing) · cmn 嘆息 /叹息 (act of sighing) · ta பெருமூச்சு (act of sighing) · da suk (act of sighing) · ka სუნთქვა (act of sighing) · ro geamăt (manifestation of grief; a lament) · pl westchnięcie (act of sighing) · vec sospiro (act of sighing) · izh ohhaus (act of sighing) · tg ох (act of sighing) · de Seufzen (act of sighing) · hi आह (act of sighing) · rm suspir (act of sighing) · sk povzdych (act of sighing) · de Seufzer (act of sighing) · ta நெட்டுயிர்ப்பு (act of sighing) · hu sóhajtás (act of sighing) · hu sóhaj (act of sighing) · hy հոգոց (act of sighing) · ja 吐息 (act of sighing) · la suspīrium (act of sighing) · uz dam (act of sighing) · eo suspiro (act of sighing) · sco sich (act of sighing) · os сулӕфт (act of sighing) · sh у̏зда̄х (act of sighing) · gu નિસાસો (act of sighing) · sk výdych (act of sighing) · uk по́дих (act of sighing) · rm suspeir (act of sighing) · kk дем алу (act of sighing) · mn шүүрс (act of sighing) · rup suschir (act of sighing) · nl zucht (act of sighing) · tl buntong-hininga (act of sighing) · nl verzuchting (manifestation of grief; a lament) · sga osnad (act of sighing) · az köksünü ötürmə (act of sighing) · bg въздишка (act of sighing) · fro sopir (act of sighing) · be узды́х (act of sighing) · ko 한숨 (act of sighing) · mk воздишка (manifestation of grief; a lament) · lt atodūsis (act of sighing) · ga cuach (act of sighing) · sv suck (act of sighing) · nl klacht (manifestation of grief; a lament) · ja ため息 (act of sighing) · av хӏухьел цӏай (act of sighing) · kk дем (act of sighing) · mk воздишка (act of sighing) · ca sospir (act of sighing) · fr soupir (act of sighing) · tg нафас (act of sighing) · tl hayahay (act of sighing) · ro suspin (act of sighing) · pl westchnienie (act of sighing) · ro oftat (act of sighing) · ru вздох (act of sighing) · vi thở dài (act of sighing) · fi huokaus (act of sighing) · lv nopūta (act of sighing) · et ohe (act of sighing) · cs vzdech (act of sighing) · te నిట్టూర్పు (act of sighing) · az ah çəkmə (act of sighing) · it sbuffo (act of sighing) · es suspiro (manifestation of grief; a lament) · uk зітха́ння (act of sighing) · ru вздох (manifestation of grief; a lament) · fi huokaisu (act of sighing) · sq psherėtimė (act of sighing) · af sug (act of sighing) · hy հառաչանք (act of sighing) · ar تَنَهُّد (act of sighing) · ba көрһөнөү (act of sighing)