breathe meaning

breathe as a verb

1. draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs
   • I can breathe better when the air is clean
   • The patient is respiring

   Synonyms: take a breath, respire, suspire

   Kinds: respire, choke, hyperventilate, hiccup, sigh, exhale, inhale, wheeze, yawn, snore

   Related forms: breather, breathing

2. be alive
   • Every creature that breathes

   Type of: exist

3. impart as if by breathing
   • He breathed new life into the old house

   Type of: instill

4. allow the passage of air through
   • Our new synthetic fabric breathes and is perfect for summer wear

   Type of: be

5. utter or tell
   • not breathe a word

   Type of: express

6. manifest or evince
   • She breathes the Christian spirit

   Type of: convey

7. take a short break from one's activities in order to relax

   Synonyms: rest, catch one's breath, take a breather

   Type of: pause

   Related forms: breather, breathing

8. reach full flavor by absorbing air and being let to stand after having been uncorked
   • This rare Bordeaux must be allowed to breathe for at least 2 hours

   Type of: oxidize

9. expel (gases or odors)

   Synonyms: emit, pass off

   Type of: exhaust

   Kinds: burp, force out, exhale, radiate, bubble

How to pronounce breathe

breathe is pronounced /briːð/ in British English and /brið/ in American English. It has 1 syllable.

Words that rhyme with breathe

• seethe
• teethe
• sheathe