Breath — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈbreth/

Meaning & Definition of Breath

Breath (noun)

  1. air filled with a fragrance or odor
  2. a slight indication, suggestion
  3. the faculty of breathing

Breath (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a momentary halt in an activity

    "let's all take a breath before continuing this discussion"

    similar: break, breather, interruption, lull, pause, recess
    related: time-out, interim, interlude, intermission, interval, respite, rest, cessation, discontinuance, downtime, ending, expiration, finishing, hitch, lapse, stoppage, stopping, termination, abeyance, moratorium, surcease, suspension, discontinuity, gap, hiatus
    near: continuation, endurance, persistence, progress, progression, extension, prolongation

  2. a slight or gentle movement of air

    "a sweet breath caressed her cheek as she sat in the garden"

    similar: air, 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. an almost imperceptible sign of something

    "the mornings are already getting warmer, and there is a breath of spring in the air"

    similar: flicker, glimmer, hint, suggestion, tang, touch, trace, whiff
    related: inkling, intimation, scent, wind, evidence, indication, mark, sign
    near: permeation, pervasion, saturation

Related Entry: Be out of breath (phrase)

Be out of breath is a different word from Breath. The synonyms below are for be out of breath, not for breath.

  1. to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty

    "They were out of breath after their five-mile run."

    similar: blow, gasp, heave, hyperventilate, pant, puff, wheeze
    related: choke, gag, gulp, huff, asphyxiate, smother, stifle, strangle, snore, snuffle, exhale, expire

Related Entry: Catch one's breath (phrase)

Catch one's breath is a different word from Breath. The synonyms below are for catch one's breath, not for breath.

  1. to come to a temporary halt in one's activity

    "I need a second to catch my breath before we move on with this discussion."

    similar: break, pause, hold one's horses
    related: hesitate, break in, interrupt, cease, discontinue, end, finish, stop, terminate, knock off, lay off, quit, lapse, let up
    near: continue, persist, advance, progress, extend, prolong, stretch

Related Entry: Hold one's breath (phrase)

Hold one's breath is a different word from Breath. The synonyms below are for hold one's breath, not for breath.

  1. to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something

    "The audience was holding their breath for the movie's final action scene."

    "Don't hold your breath waiting for that swindler to return your money."

    similar: await, bide, hold on, stay, wait, bide one's time, cool one's heels, sit tight
    related: hang around, linger, remain, stick around, tarry, stand by, anticipate, expect, watch (for)

Related Entry: Been out of breath (phrase)

Been out of breath is a different word from Breath. The synonyms below are for been out of breath, not for breath.

  1. to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty

    "They were out of breath after their five-mile run."

    similar: blown, gasped, heaved, hyperventilated, panted, puffed, wheezed
    related: choked, gagged, gulped, huffed, asphyxiated, smothered, stifled, strangled, snored, snuffled, exhaled, expired

Related Entry: Was out of breath (phrase)

Was out of breath is a different word from Breath. The synonyms below are for was out of breath, not for breath.

  1. to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty

    "They were out of breath after their five-mile run."

    similar: blew, gasped, heaved, hyperventilated, panted, puffed, wheezed
    related: choked, gagged, gulped, huffed, asphyxiated, smothered, stifled, strangled, snored, snuffled, exhaled, expired

Related Entry: Caught one's breath (phrase)

Caught one's breath is a different word from Breath. The synonyms below are for caught one's breath, not for breath.

  1. to come to a temporary halt in one's activity

    "I need a second to catch my breath before we move on with this discussion."

    similar: broke, paused, held one's horses
    related: hesitated, broke in, interrupted, ceased, discontinued, ended, finished, stopped, terminated, knocked off, laid off, quit, lapsed, let up
    near: continued, persisted, advanced, progressed, extended, prolonged, stretched

Related Entry: Held one's breath (phrase)

Held one's breath is a different word from Breath. The synonyms below are for held one's breath, not for breath.

  1. to remain in place in readiness or expectation of something

    "The audience was holding their breath for the movie's final action scene."

    "Don't hold your breath waiting for that swindler to return your money."

    similar: awaited, bode, held on, stayed, waited, bided one's time, cooled one's heels, sat tight
    related: hung around, lingered, remained, stuck around, tarried, stood by, anticipated, expected, watched (for)

Related Entry: Is out of breath (phrase)

Is out of breath is a different word from Breath. The synonyms below are for is out of breath, not for breath.

  1. to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty

    "They were out of breath after their five-mile run."

    similar: blows, gasps, heaves, hyperventilates, pants, puffs, wheezes
    related: chokes, gags, gulps, huffs, asphyxiates, smothers, stifles, strangles, snores, snuffles, exhales, expires

Related Entry: Catches one's breath (phrase)

Catches one's breath is a different word from Breath. The synonyms below are for catches one's breath, not for breath.

  1. to come to a temporary halt in one's activity

    "I need a second to catch my breath before we move on with this discussion."

    similar: breaks, pauses, holds one's horses
    related: hesitates, breaks in, interrupts, ceases, discontinues, ends, finishes, stops, terminates, knocks off, lays off, quits, lapses, lets up
    near: continues, persists, advances, progresses, extends, prolongs, stretches

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Breath

The most common words with a similar meaning to Breath:

break, breather, interruption, lull, pause, recess, air, breeze, puff, waft, zephyr, flicker, glimmer, hint, suggestion, tang, touch, trace, whiff

Related Words for Breath

time-out, interim, interlude, intermission, interval, respite, rest, cessation, discontinuance, downtime, ending, expiration, finishing, hitch, lapse, stoppage, stopping, termination, abeyance, moratorium, surcease, suspension, discontinuity, gap, hiatus, current, draft, sea breeze, blast, blow

Near Antonyms of Breath

continuation, endurance, persistence, progress, progression, extension, prolongation, calm, permeation, pervasion, saturation

Origin & Etymology of Breath

Middle English breth, from Old English brǣth; akin to Old High German brādam breath, and perhaps to Old English beorma yeast barm

First known use: 13th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Breath

Words & Phrases Containing Breath

breath of fresh air, breath work, breath test, baby's breath, catch one's breath, hold one's breath, in one breath, morning breath, out of breath

Frequently Asked Questions about Breath

What does "Breath" mean?

"Breath" means air filled with a fragrance or odor. As a noun, it is defined as: air filled with a fragrance or odor. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Breath"?

Other words for "Breath" include break, breather, interruption, lull, pause, recess, air and breeze. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Breath" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Breath"?

There are 72 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Breath". Common alternatives include break, breather, interruption, lull, pause, recess, air, breeze, puff and waft.

How do you use "Breath" in a sentence?

Examples of "Breath" in a sentence: "let's all take a breath before continuing this discussion"; "a sweet breath caressed her cheek as she sat in the garden"; "the mornings are already getting warmer, and there is a breath of spring in the air".

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

"Breath" is a noun.

Is "Breath" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Breath" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Breath"?

"Breath" is pronounced /ˈbreth/.

What is the origin of the word "Breath"?

"Breath" comes from Middle English breth, from Old English brǣth; akin to Old High German brādam breath, and perhaps to Old English beorma yeast barm. First known use: 13th century.