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sigh

v. · n. · interj.
US //ˈsaɪ// UK //sˈaɪ// sigh
  1. 1 to breathe out with emotion (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to let out a deep breath that people can hear because you are tired, sad, or disappointed.

    to emit a long, deep, audible breath expressing fatigue, frustration, or grief. Intransitive in its primary sense.

    Example

    She sighed with relief when she finally found her lost keys in her bag.

    Example

    The professor sighed audibly as he began grading the stack of poorly researched essays that had arrived just before the weekend.
  2. 2 to make a similar sound (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Literary

    to make a sound like a person breathing out, like wind in the trees.

    to produce a sound reminiscent of a human sigh, typically used of wind or moving air.

    Example

    The wind sighed through the tall pine trees behind the house.

    Example

    A gentle breeze sighed through the open casement, carrying the scent of damp earth and jasmine into the quiet library.
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  1. 3 the sound of a deep breath (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the sound you make when you breathe out deeply because of a strong feeling.

    a single deep, audible respiration expressive of sorrow, weariness, or relief.

    Example

    With a heavy sigh, he sat down and started his homework.

    Example

    The negotiator let out a long sigh of frustration when the talks reached another unexpected stalemate after hours of progress.
  2. 4 written expression of annoyance (interj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    a word used in text messages or emails to show you are tired or annoyed.

    a written representation of the act of sighing, used to convey a pragmatic mood of resignation or mild annoyance in digital discourse.

    Example

    Sigh, I have to work late again tonight.

    Example

    Sigh, I just realised I left my umbrella on the train and it is starting to pour.

  3. 5 a bored person (n.)
    C2 Proficiency British English Slang Dialect

    a person who is very bored or boring.

    a person characterised by boredom or lack of interest. Derived from rhyming slang 'sigh and groan'.

    Example

    Don't be such a sigh; come out to the party with us.

    Example

    He was known as a bit of a sigh among his colleagues, rarely contributing anything of substance to the office social events.
Etymology 1

From Middle English sighen (“to sigh”), back-formation from sighte, past tense form of siken, from Old English sīcan, from Proto-West Germanic sīkan, perhaps ultimately from Proto-Indo-European seykʷ- (“to pour out”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English sighe (“sigh”), from sighen (“to sigh”) (see [[#Etymology 1]]).

Idioms2 entries

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