Word
breathing
Phoneticsbreath·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbɹiðɪŋ/
UK/bɹˈiːðɪŋ/
Definitions
01respiration
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun Medicine
n. the act of taking air into your lungs and sending it out again.
n. the process of inhaling and exhaling air as part of respiration.
Español:respiración
“The doctor told him to take deep breathing exercises to help his lungs.”
“The patient's breathing became more regular once the oxygen mask was properly adjusted by the nursing staff.”
Synonyms
02living
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. having life or being alive.
adj. possessing life; currently living or existing.
“Every breathing creature on the planet needs water to survive.”
“The poet described the forest as a single breathing organism, interconnected by roots and shared resources.”
03grammar mark
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Technical
n. a small mark used in some languages, like Ancient Greek, to show how to say a sound.
n. a diacritical mark used in Greek orthography to indicate the presence or absence of an initial /h/ sound.
“The student struggled to remember which breathing mark meant the 'h' sound was silent.”
“In classical philology, the presence of a rough breathing mark significantly alters the phonetic realisation of the initial vowel.”
Usage
Usually distinguished as 'rough breathing' or 'smooth breathing'.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “breathing” in context.
Verb
01. control your breathing
“Try to control your breathing to slow down your heart rate.”
verb + possessive + noun
02. difficulty with breathing
“Some people experience difficulty with breathing during the hay fever season.”
noun + prep + noun
03. stop breathing
“If the patient stops breathing, you must call for help immediately.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. deep breathing
“Deep breathing exercises can help you feel more relaxed when you are stressed.”
adj + noun
05. heavy breathing
“We could hear his heavy breathing after he finished the long race.”
adj + noun
06. regular breathing
“The doctor listened to the child's regular breathing as she slept.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. breathing difficulties
“The smoke from the fire caused breathing difficulties for many residents.”
noun + noun
08. breathing exercises
“The yoga teacher taught us several breathing exercises to improve our focus.”
noun + noun
Etymology
From breathe + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- 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
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/breathing
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0