Breath Meaning, Definition & Usage Examples

Meaning 1：breathed air (breath)

breath 🔊

/brɛθ/

The air that you take into your lungs and let out when you breathe.

Breath exhaled as visible mist from mouth close-up

breathed air 🔊

➕

/briːðd ɛər/

The air that is taken into the lungs and released during respiration.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Old English bræþ, from Proto-Germanic *brēþą; related to Dutch adem and German Atem.

💡 Mnemonic

Verb 'breathe' has an extra 'e'; noun 'breath' does not. Catch your breath to remember it.

📖 Example

After running up five flights of stairs, I had to stop to catch my breath. 🔊 After climbing five floors of stairs, I needed to pause to regain my breath.

🔗 Collocations

catch one's breath – To pause and resume normal breathing after exertion.

hold one's breath – To intentionally stop breathing for a short period.

out of breath – Having difficulty breathing due to physical effort.

🔄 Synonyms

respiration (n.) – The process of inhaling and exhaling air.

breathing (n.) – The act of taking air into and out of the lungs.

inhalation (n.) – The act of drawing air into the lungs.

🚫 Antonyms

asphyxiation (n.) – The state of being deprived of oxygen, leading to suffocation.

suffocation (n.) – The cessation of breathing due to lack of air or obstruction.

🌱 Derivatives

breathe (v.) – To take air into and expel from the lungs.

breathless (adj.) – Short of breath, or experiencing difficulty breathing.

breathing (n.) – The process of respiration.

📖 Cultural Story

Breath comes from Old English bræþ (odor, exhalation), from Proto-Germanic root meaning 'to burn/smell'. Its meaning shifted to the physical act of breathing.