# breathing

/ˈbɹiðɪŋ/ (US) · /bɹˈiːðɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/breathing
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. respiration

noun · CEFR B1

the act of taking air into your lungs and sending it out again.

For teachers: the process of inhaling and exhaling air as part of respiration.

- 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.

### 2. living

adjective · CEFR B2

having life or being alive.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. grammar mark

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a small mark used in some languages, like Ancient Greek, to show how to say a sound.

For teachers: 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'.

## Examples

- Deep breathing helps you feel more relaxed.
- The doctor listened to the patient's breathing to check for any signs of a chest infection.
- Yoga practitioners often focus on rhythmic breathing to synchronize their physical movements with their internal state, promoting both physical endurance and mental clarity.

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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.