Word
breathe
US/ˈbɹið/
UK/bɹˈiːð/
Definitions
01to inhale and exhale
B1 · Intermediate
v. to take air into your lungs and then send it out again.
v. to inhale and exhale air through the respiratory system to facilitate gas exchange.
“The doctor told me to breathe in deeply while she listened to my chest.”
“After sprinting to catch the bus, he stood on the pavement for several minutes trying to breathe normally again.”
Usage
Intransitive or transitive; when transitive, the object is usually the substance inhaled, such as 'breathe smoke'.
Synonyms
02to whisper
C1 · Advanced Literary
v. to say something very quietly or softly.
v. to utter words very quietly, often as a whisper or a soft sigh.
“Don't breathe a word of this secret to anyone else.”
“She leaned closer to breathe a final warning into his ear before disappearing into the crowded ballroom.”
Usage
Often used in the negative idiom 'not breathe a word'.
Antonyms
03fabric/material
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. when a material or fabric allows air to pass through it easily.
v. of a garment or material, to allow air and moisture to circulate through the fibres.
“Cotton is a popular summer fabric because it allows your skin to breathe.”
“The new synthetic membrane is designed to breathe during intense physical activity, preventing the buildup of sweat inside the jacket.”
Synonyms
04to live and feel
C1 · Advanced Literary
v. to be very dedicated to something, as if it is the most important part of your life.
v. to be intensely or passionately devoted to a particular activity or interest.
“He loves his job so much that he lives and breathes football.”
“The young artist seemed to breathe the atmosphere of the studio, spending every waking hour perfecting her technique.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “breathe” in context.
Verb
01. breathe a sigh
“Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they heard the news.”
verb + noun
02. breathe and live
“She loves tennis so much that she breathes and lives the sport every day.”
verb + and + verb
03. breathe in air
“It felt wonderful to step outside and breathe in the fresh mountain air.”
verb + prep + noun
Noun
04. fabric that breathes
“It is important to wear a fabric that breathes when you go for a long run.”
noun + verb
Adverb
05. breathe deeply
“The doctor asked me to breathe deeply while he listened to my chest.”
verb + adv
06. breathe easily
“Now that the exams are over, I can finally breathe easily again.”
verb + adv
07. breathe heavily
“We could hear him breathing heavily after he ran up the stairs.”
verb + adv
Confusables
Breath is the noun for the air itself, while breathe is the verb for the action of moving that air.
RememberBreathe has an 'e' for the energy needed to act.
Real-World Examples
“Volunteers are going door-to-door in the province, handing out cylinders of life-giving oxygen to residents and firefighters struggling to breathe, in a campaign called "Rumah Oksigen", or Oxygen House.” “If you watch a newborn baby breathe, or a toddler breathe, they have these great big expansive belly breaths.” “As individuals breathe, the system graphically displays the rate and depth of their breaths on a monitor, along with objectives for slower inhalation and more complete exhalation.” “Everyone breathes, and breath connects emotion, thought, the body, and the mind," he remarked in a recent interview.” 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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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