breath
gb/bɹˈɛθ/ us/bɹˈɛθ/
A2
English
~ 1800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
event
1
Air in or out of lungs
The air you take in or let out when you breathe.
Usage pattern:
to take [a] breath
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'breath' (noun) with 'breathe' (verb). Remember: 'breath' is the air, 'breathe' is the action.
Synonyms
inhalation (More formal and technical, referring specifically to air intake.)
|
exhalation (Refers specifically to air being let out of the lungs.)
Antonyms
breathlessness (The state of being unable to breathe easily.)
Collocations
deep breath
|hold breath
|shortness of breath
|catch one's breath
|gasp for breath
Themes
daily life
|health
|human body
|body
Examples
- She took a deep breath before starting her speech.
- His breath was visible in the cold air.
- After running up the hill, he was out of breath.
- The doctor listened to her breath with a stethoscope.
- He held his breath while swimming underwater.
Learner examples
- I took a deep breath.
- Her breath is warm.
- He held his breath.
- I can see my breath in winter.
Noun
B1
event
2
Short break to breathe or rest
A short stop to get air or rest.
Usage pattern:
to pause for [a] breath
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with 'break' in general contexts; here it specifically relates to breathing.
Synonyms
break (More general; not limited to breathing.)
Antonyms
continuous effort (Doing something without stopping to rest or breathe.)
Collocations
pause for breath
|stop for breath
|catch one's breath
Themes
daily life
|sports
|daily_life
|health
Examples
- She paused for a breath before continuing the story.
- Let’s stop for a breath before we climb higher.
- He didn’t take a breath between sentences.
Learner examples
- I stopped for a breath.
- She took a breath before speaking.
- He paused for a breath.
Noun
B2
event
3
Very light wind or air movement
A very small and soft movement of air.
Synonyms
breeze (Slightly stronger and more sustained than 'breath' of air.)
Antonyms
stillness (The complete absence of wind or air movement.)
Collocations
a breath of wind
|a breath of air
Themes
nature
|weather
Examples
- A breath of wind moved the curtains.
- There wasn’t even a breath of air in the room.
- I felt a faint breath on my cheek.
Learner examples
- I felt a breath of wind.
- The room had no breath of air.
- A breath moved the leaves.
Noun
B2
quantity
4
Very small amount of something
A very small amount of something you can just notice.
Synonyms
hint (Commonly used for small amounts, especially of qualities or smells.)
Antonyms
flood (A large amount, opposite to a tiny trace.)
Collocations
a breath of perfume
|a breath of scandal
Themes
descriptions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- There was a breath of perfume in the air.
- A breath of excitement ran through the crowd.
- He spoke without a breath of doubt.
Learner examples
- I smell a breath of perfume.
- There is a breath of smoke.
- She has a breath of fear in her voice.
Grammar
Dictionary form
breath
IPA
GB/bɹˈɛθ/
US/bɹˈɛθ/
Syllables & stress
breath (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (breath)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: breath
- Plural: breath, breaths
Word family
Forms
breaths
noun
Core family
breathe
verb A1
Related words
breathing
noun
breathable
adjective
breather
noun
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
breathtaking
adjective B2
breathtakingly
adverb
Expressions
catch one's breath
1/kˈæt͡ʃ wˈʌnz bɹˈɛθ/
idiom
Pause to recover normal breathing
To stop for a short time so you can breathe normally again.
Examples
- He stopped to catch his breath after the sprint.
- Give me a moment to catch my breath before we start again.
hold one's breath
1/hˈoʊld wˈʌnz bɹˈɛθ/
idiom
Stop breathing for a short time on purpose
To not breathe for a short time on purpose, often while waiting or underwater.
Examples
- She held her breath as she went underwater.
- We held our breaths as we waited for the result.
out of breath
1/ˈaʊt əv bɹˈɛθ/
fixed phrase
Unable to breathe easily after activity
Not able to breathe easily because you have been running or doing hard work.
Examples
- She was out of breath after running up the stairs.
- I get out of breath easily when hiking.
take a deep breath
1/tˈeɪk ə dˈip bɹˈɛθ/
fixed phrase
Inhale deeply once
To breathe in fully and deeply one time, often before starting something difficult.
Examples
- Take a deep breath and try again.
- He took a deep breath before answering.
under one's breath
1/ˈʌndɚ wˈʌnz bɹˈɛθ/
idiom
Speak very quietly so others can't hear well
To speak so quietly that people near you cannot hear clearly.
Examples
- He muttered something under his breath.
- She swore under her breath when she saw the bill.