Air — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈer/

Meaning & Definition of Air

Air (noun)

  1. the mixture of invisible odorless tasteless gases (such as nitrogen and oxygen) that surrounds the earth; also, the equivalent mix of gases on another celestial object (such as a planet)
  2. a light breeze
  3. breath

Air (verb)

  1. to expose to the air for drying, purifying, or refreshing, ventilate —often used with out
  2. to expose to public view or bring to public notice
  3. to transmit by radio or television

Air (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a special quality or impression associated with something

    "Naomi's the only person I know who can wear old jeans and a T-shirt with an air of elegance"

    similar: ambience, aroma, atmosphere, aura, climate, flavor, halo, karma, mood, nimbus, note, odor, patina, smell, temper, vibration(s)
    related: aureole, mystique, romance, genius loci, feel, feeling, sensation, sense, spirit, attribute, character, characteristic, image, mark, notion, peculiarity, picture, property, trait, color, illusion, overtone, semblance, suggestion, tone

  2. a slight or gentle movement of air

    "we sailed into the bay on a light air and just in time to enjoy a spectacular sunset"

    similar: breath, breeze, puff, waft, zephyr
    related: current, draft, whiff, sea breeze, blast, blow, flurry, gale, headwind, northeaster, norther, northwester, southeaster, southwester, tailwind, westerly, wind, squall, tempest, tornado, windstorm, airflow
    near: calm

  3. a display of emotion or behavior that is insincere or intended to deceive

    "ever since she joined the country club she's been putting on airs of being too high society for us ordinary folks"

    similar: act, charade, disguise, facade, front, guise, masquerade, playacting, pose, pretense, put-on, semblance, show
    related: impersonation, performance, portrayal, image, persona, appearance, color, gloss, camouflage, cloak, affectation, deceit, deception, dissembling, dissimulation, double-dealing, duplicity, fakery, fraud, guile, betrayal, double cross, faithlessness, falseness, falsity, infidelity, perfidy, treachery, treason, unfaithfulness, excuse, pretext
    near: bluntness, candidness, candor, directness, forthrightness, frankness, openheartedness, outspokenness, plainspokenness, sincerity, straightforwardness, artlessness, genuineness, naïveté

  4. a rhythmic series of musical tones arranged to give a pleasing effect

    "played a lively air on his fiddle"

    similar: lay, melody, song, strain, tune, warble
    related: descant, cadence, measure, meter, rhythm, ballad, ditty, hymn, lyric, madrigal

Air (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make known (as an idea, emotion, or opinion)

    "suggested we air any complaints about the seating arrangements to the person who actually planned the event"

    similar: expound, express, give, look, raise, sound, state, vent, ventilate, voice, give air to, put forth
    related: advertise, announce, declare, enounce, enunciate, proclaim, say, broadcast, circulate, disseminate, publish, describe, write, write up, sound off, speak out, speak up, chime in, communicate, convey, put across, put over, offer, submit
    opposite: stifle, suppress
    near: censor, restrain, restrict

Related Entry: Air raid (noun)

Air raid is a different word from Air. The synonyms below are for air raid, not for air.

  1. an attack in which a place is bombed by military airplanes

    "Much of the city was destroyed in an air raid."

    similar: bombardment, bombing, aggression, assault, attempt, blitz, blitzkrieg, charge, coup de main, descent, offense, offensive, onset, onslaught, raid, rush, strike, ambuscade, ambush, counteraggression, counterassault, counterattack, counteroffensive, counterstrike, sally, sortie, envelopment, flanking, breakthrough, foray, incursion, invasion, pillage, ravage, sack, siege, storm, barrage, cannonade, fusillade, hail, salvo, volley, whammy
    opposite: defense, defensive, guard, shield, opposition, resistance, protection, security, shelter

Related Entry: Air base (noun)

Air base is a different word from Air. The synonyms below are for air base, not for air.

  1. as in heliport, helipad

    similar: air park, helipad, heliport, jetport, aerodrome (chiefly British), airdrome, airfield, airport, field, airstrip, landing field, landing strip, runway, launchpad, pad

Related Entry: Air bases (noun)

Air bases is a different word from Air. The synonyms below are for air bases, not for air.

  1. as in heliports, helipads

    similar: air parks, helipads, heliports, jetports, aerodromes (chiefly British), airdromes, airfields, airports, fields, airstrips, landing fields, landing strips, runways, launchpads, pads

Related Entry: Air park (noun)

Air park is a different word from Air. The synonyms below are for air park, not for air.

  1. as in air base, heliport

    similar: air base, helipad, heliport, jetport, aerodrome (chiefly British), airdrome, airfield, airport, field, airstrip, landing field, landing strip, runway, launchpad, pad

Related Entry: Air parks (noun)

Air parks is a different word from Air. The synonyms below are for air parks, not for air.

  1. as in air bases, heliports

    similar: air bases, helipads, heliports, jetports, aerodromes (chiefly British), airdromes, airfields, airports, fields, airstrips, landing fields, landing strips, runways, launchpads, pads

Related Entry: Air rage (noun)

Air rage is a different word from Air. The synonyms below are for air rage, not for air.

  1. as in road rage

    similar: road rage, chafe, dander, dudgeon, huff, pet, rise, ruffle, temper, delirium, heat, passion, warmth, blowup, flare, flare-up, outburst, belligerence, contentiousness, contrariness, crankiness, disputatiousness, hot-headedness, irascibility, irascibleness, irritability, orneriness, pugnaciousness, pugnacity, quarrelsomeness, querulousness, malevolence, malice, spite, vengefulness, venom, vindictiveness, virulence, vitriol, envy, jaundice, jealousy, pique, resentment, acrimoniousness, acrimony, animosity, antagonism, antipathy, bile, biliousness, bitterness, contempt, embitterment, empoisonment, enmity, grudge, hostility, rancor, aggravation, annoyance, exasperation, irritation, vexation, anger, angriness, birse (chiefly Scottish), choler, furor, fury, indignation, irateness, ire, lividity, lividness, mad, madness, mood (archaic), outrage, rage, spleen, wrath, wrathfulness
    opposite: delight, pleasure, calmness, forbearance, patience

Related Entry: Air taxi (noun)

Air taxi is a different word from Air. The synonyms below are for air taxi, not for air.

  1. as in liner, airliner

    similar: airliner, liner, aeroplane (chiefly British), airplane, plane, aerodyne, aircraft, air-cushion vehicle, airframe, airship, ship, tractor, freighter, tanker, jet, jetliner, superjet, supersonic, supersonic transport, trijet, turbojet, turboprop, aerospace plane, rocket plane, bomber, fighter, jump jet, torpedo bomber, warplane, amphibian, seaplane, biplane, lightplane, tilt-rotor, towplane, trimotor, triplane, glider, sailplane

Related Entry: Air taxis (noun)

Air taxis is a different word from Air. The synonyms below are for air taxis, not for air.

  1. as in liners, airliners

    similar: airliners, liners, aeroplanes (chiefly British), airplanes, planes, aerodynes, aircraft, air-cushion vehicles, airframes, airships, ships, tractors, freighters, tankers, jetliners, jets, superjets, supersonics, supersonic transports, trijets, turbojets, turboprops, aerospace planes, rocket planes, bombers, fighters, jump jets, torpedo bombers, warplanes, amphibians, seaplanes, biplanes, lightplanes, tilt-rotors, towplanes, trimotors, triplanes, gliders, sailplanes

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Air

The most common words with a similar meaning to Air:

ambience, aroma, atmosphere, aura, climate, flavor, halo, karma, mood, nimbus, note, odor, patina, smell, temper, vibration(s), breath, breeze, puff, waft, zephyr, act, charade, disguise, facade, front, guise, masquerade, playacting, pose, pretense, put-on, semblance, show, lay, melody, song, strain, tune, warble

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Air

Words with the opposite meaning of Air:

stifle, suppress

Related Words for Air

aureole, mystique, romance, genius loci, feel, feeling, sensation, sense, spirit, attribute, character, characteristic, image, mark, notion, peculiarity, picture, property, trait, color, illusion, overtone, suggestion, tone, current, draft, whiff, sea breeze, blast, blow

Near Antonyms of Air

calm, bluntness, candidness, candor, directness, forthrightness, frankness, openheartedness, outspokenness, plainspokenness, sincerity, straightforwardness, artlessness, genuineness, naïveté, censor, restrain, restrict

Word Forms of Air

Inflections: airs, aired, airing

Derived words: airless (adjective), airlessness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Air

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin aer, from Greek aēr air

First known use: 14th century

Words & Phrases Containing Air

air ball, air base, air bed, air bladder, air brake, air-breathing, air chief marshal, air commodore

Frequently Asked Questions about Air

What does "Air" mean?

"Air" means the mixture of invisible odorless tasteless gases (such as nitrogen and oxygen) that surrounds the earth; also, the equivalent mix of gases on another celestial object (such as a planet). As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: the mixture of invisible odorless tasteless gases (such as nitrogen and oxygen) that surrounds the earth; also, the equivalent mix of gases on another celestial object (such as a planet). It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Air"?

Other words for "Air" include ambience, aroma, atmosphere, aura, climate, flavor, halo and karma. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Air" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Air"?

There are 162 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Air". Common alternatives include ambience, aroma, atmosphere, aura, climate, flavor, halo, karma, mood and nimbus.

What is the opposite of "Air"?

Antonyms of "Air" include stifle and suppress. Near antonyms include calm, bluntness, candidness and candor.

How do you use "Air" in a sentence?

Examples of "Air" in a sentence: "Naomi's the only person I know who can wear old jeans and a T-shirt with an air of elegance"; "we sailed into the bay on a light air and just in time to enjoy a spectacular sunset"; "ever since she joined the country club she's been putting on airs of being too high society for us ordinary folks".

Is "Air" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Air" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Air"?

"Air" is pronounced /ˈer/.

What is the origin of the word "Air"?

"Air" comes from Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin aer, from Greek aēr air. First known use: 14th century.