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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Sigh Meaning, Examples, and Usage Guide (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：sigh (disappointed) (sigh)

sigh 🔊

/saɪ/

v./n.

To breathe out slowly and noisily, often because you are tired, unhappy, or disappointed.

Person sighing in disappointment at a desk with books

sigh (disappointed) 🔊

➕

/saɪ dɪsəˈpɔɪntɪd/

v./n.

To exhale audibly in a way that shows disappointment, fatigue, or frustration.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English sīcan; imitative of the sound of a sigh.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'sigh' as 'see-gh' — 'see' the breath leaving your mouth, making the 'gh' sound.

📖 Example

After looking at the difficult math problem for ten minutes, he put down his pencil and sighed. 🔊 After looking at the difficult math problem for ten minutes, he put down his pencil and sighed.

🔗 Collocations

sigh heavily – to sigh in a very obvious, deep way

sigh in frustration – to sigh because of irritation or annoyance

let out a sigh of disappointment – to release an audible breath showing disappointment

🔄 Synonyms

groan (v.) – to make a deep sound of pain, distress, or disapproval

moan (v.) – to make a low, prolonged sound of sadness, pain, or discomfort

🚫 Antonyms

laugh (v.) – to make sounds of amusement or joy

cheer (v.) – to shout with happiness or encouragement

🌱 Derivatives

sigh (n.) – the act or sound of sighing

sighing (adj.) – characterized by sighs

📖 Cultural Story

In English, 'sigh' has been used since the 13th century to express a range of emotions. It appears in Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice' and is a universal non-verbal signal across cultures.

Meaning 2：sigh (relieved) (sigh)

sigh 🔊

/saɪ/

v./n.

To breathe out in a happy or relieved way when a worry or difficult situation is over.

Person sighing with relief while relaxing on a sofa

sigh (relieved) 🔊

➕

/saɪ rɪˈliːvd/

v./n.

To exhale softly, often with a sense of relief or contentment after a stressful situation ends.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Finding her lost keys in her bag, she sighed with relief. 🔊 Finding her lost keys in her bag, she sighed with relief.

🔗 Collocations

sigh with relief – to breathe out in a way that shows anxiety is gone

breathe a sigh of relief – to exhale deeply after a worry is resolved

sigh contentedly – to sigh in a calm, satisfied manner

🔄 Synonyms

exhale (v.) – to breathe out, often after holding one's breath or tension

relax (v.) – to become less tense or anxious

🚫 Antonyms

gasp (v.) – to inhale sharply, typically from surprise or fear

hold one's breath (phrase) – to deliberately stop breathing, often due to anticipation

🌱 Derivatives

sigh (n.) – the act or sound of sighing

sighingly (adv.) – in a manner that involves sighing