Breathe — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ˈbrēt͟h/

Meaning & Definition of Breathe

Breathe (verb)

  1. to draw air into and expel it from the lungs, respire; broadly, to take in oxygen and give out carbon dioxide through natural processes
  2. to inhale and exhale freely
  3. to blow softly

Breathe (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to inhale and exhale air

    "sometimes it gets so hot in here that it's hard to even breathe"

    similar: respire
    related: blow (out), draw, expire, inbreathe, inspire, gasp, huff, pant, puff, suspire, wheeze, sniff, snore, snort, snuff, snuffle, whiff, yawn
    near: asphyxiate, choke, gag, smother, suffocate, garrote, stifle, strangle, throttle

  2. to have life

    "as long as I breathe, you will have a place to stay"

    similar: be, exist, live, subsist
    related: abide, continue, endure, hold on, hold up, keep (on), kick, last, lead, persist, rule, run on, survive, move, flourish, prosper, thrive
    opposite: depart, die, expire, pass away, perish, succumb
    near: disappear, evaporate, vanish, cease, desist, discontinue, end, quit, stop, abate, die (down), ebb, let up, moderate, subside, wane

Related Entry: Breathe (out) (verb)

Breathe (out) is a different word from Breathe. The synonyms below are for breathe (out), not for breathe.

  1. to let or force out of the lungs

    "leaned back in his chair and breathed out the smoke from his pipe"

    similar: blow (out), exhale, expel, expire
    related: expectorate
    opposite: inbreathe, inhale, inspire

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Breathe

The most common words with a similar meaning to Breathe:

respire, be, exist, live, subsist

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Breathe

Words with the opposite meaning of Breathe:

depart, die, expire, pass away, perish, succumb

Related Words for Breathe

blow (out), draw, expire, inbreathe, inspire, gasp, huff, pant, puff, suspire, wheeze, sniff, snore, snort, snuff, snuffle, whiff, yawn, abide, continue, endure, hold on, hold up, keep (on), kick, last, lead, persist, rule, run on

Near Antonyms of Breathe

asphyxiate, choke, gag, smother, suffocate, garrote, stifle, strangle, throttle, disappear, evaporate, vanish, cease, desist, discontinue, end, quit, stop, abate, die (down), ebb, let up, moderate, subside, wane

Word Forms of Breathe

Inflections: breathed, breathing

Origin & Etymology of Breathe

Middle English brethen, from breth see breath

First known use: 14th centuryi

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Breathe

Words & Phrases Containing Breathe

breathe down one's neck, breathe easy, breathe a sigh of relief, breathe down someone's neck, breathe (new) life into, breathe one's last, not say/breathe a word

Frequently Asked Questions about Breathe

What does "Breathe" mean?

"Breathe" means to draw air into and expel it from the lungs, respire; broadly, to take in oxygen and give out carbon dioxide through natural processes. As a verb, it is defined as: to draw air into and expel it from the lungs, respire; broadly, to take in oxygen and give out carbon dioxide through natural processes. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Breathe"?

Other words for "Breathe" include respire, be, exist, live and subsist. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Breathe" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Breathe"?

There are 40 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Breathe". Common alternatives include respire, be, exist, live and subsist.

What is the opposite of "Breathe"?

Antonyms of "Breathe" include depart, die, expire, pass away, perish and succumb. Near antonyms include asphyxiate, choke, gag and smother.

How do you use "Breathe" in a sentence?

Examples of "Breathe" in a sentence: "sometimes it gets so hot in here that it's hard to even breathe"; "as long as I breathe, you will have a place to stay".

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

"Breathe" is a verb.

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

As a B1-level word, "Breathe" 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 "Breathe"?

"Breathe" is pronounced /ˈbrēt͟h/.