Word
pant
US/ˈpænt/
UK/pˈɑːnt/
Definition
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.
Examples
“The dog started to pant after running in the park.”
“She reached the top of the stairs and had to stop for a moment to pant and catch her breath.”
“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.”
Examples
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.”
Usage
The verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object.
Pitfall
He was panting for the air
He was panting for air
When used with 'for' to show a need, the following noun is usually uncountable and does not require an article.
Etymology
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”).
From pants.
Unknown
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
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/pant