Word
breathless
Phoneticsbreath·less, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbɹɛθɫəs/
UK/bɹˈɛθləs/
Definition
adj. having trouble breathing because you are tired or excited. It can also describe a feeling of great wonder or surprise.
adj. characterised by difficulty in breathing, typically due to physical exertion, intense emotion, or shock. Often used to describe a state of suspense or awe.
Examples
“She was breathless after running up the stairs.”
“The hikers arrived at the summit breathless but happy to see the view.”
“The audience waited in breathless silence as the acrobat prepared for the final, most dangerous stunt of the evening.”
Examples
simple
“She was breathless after running up the stairs.”
contextual
“The hikers arrived at the summit breathless but happy to see the view.”
complex
“The audience waited in breathless silence as the acrobat prepared for the final, most dangerous stunt of the evening.”
Usage
Commonly used both predicatively after linking verbs like 'be' or 'feel' and attributively before nouns.
Real-World Examples
“Even "something as simple as throwing a duvet on the bed", can leave her breathless.” “Usually, the victim would become paralyzed when the mare visited and felt a heavy weight starting at the foot but ending on the chest, leaving the victim feeling suffocated, panicked, and breathless.” “D ays and months pass in lonely, blunt-edged monotony, a low, breathless panic beating in my chest.” “Breathless media reports called the site the birthplace of religion; the German magazine Der Spiegel compared the fertile grasslands around the site to the Garden of Eden.” Etymology
From breath + -less.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The word in film
Breathless · 1960 · Crime
- Directed by:
- Jean-Luc Godard
- Starring:
- Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jean Seberg, Jean-Pierre Melville
Jean-Luc Godard directed this classic French crime drama about a young thief on the run from the police. The title captures the fast-paced, nervous energy of the characters as they experience the excitement and danger of their criminal lifestyle.
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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