ENGLISH
REFERENCE

pant

v.
B1 Intermediate US //ˈpænt// UK //pˈɑːnt// pant Archaic

v. to breathe quickly and loudly with your mouth open, usually because you are tired or very hot.

v. to breathe with short, quick gasps, typically as a result of physical exertion or extreme heat.


SIMPLE

The dog started to pant after running in the park.

CONTEXTUAL

She reached the top of the stairs and had to stop for a moment to pant and catch her breath.

COMPLEX

The marathon runners continued to pant heavily long after crossing the finish line, their bodies struggling to recover from the intense cardiovascular demand of the race.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English panten, whence also English dialectal pank. Possibly from Old French pantoyer, a byform or of Old French pantoisier (“to be breathless”) (compare modern French panteler (“to gasp for breath”)), of uncertain origin. Possibly from Vulgar Latin *pantasiō (“struggling for breath when having a nightmare”), from Ancient Greek φαντασιόω (phantasióō, “I am subject to hallucinations”), from φαντασία (phantasía, “appearance, image, fantasy”).

Etymology 2

From pants.

Etymology 3

Unknown

Usage

The verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object.

Pitfall

He was panting for the airHe was panting for airWhen used with 'for' to show a need, the following noun is usually uncountable and does not require an article.

© 2026 English Reference