# breathed

/ˈbɹiðd/ (US) · /bɹˈiːðd/ (UK) · CEFR A2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/breathed
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

the past tense of 'breathe', meaning you took air into your lungs and let it out again.

For teachers: the past tense and past participle of 'breathe'; refers to the physiological process of inhaling and exhaling air.

## Examples

- She breathed deeply to calm her nerves.
- After running the marathon, he leaned against a tree and breathed heavily for several minutes.
- The cold winter air was so crisp that every time she breathed out, a thick cloud of white vapor appeared before her face.

## Usage notes

- The verb is intransitive when describing the act of respiration, but can be transitive when 'breathing' a specific substance like air or smoke.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.