breath
A2Neutral (used across all registers)
Definition
Meaning
The air taken into or expelled from the lungs during respiration.
A slight indication or suggestion; a brief moment; a small amount of moving air.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Countable noun when referring to a single act or instance (e.g., 'take a breath'); uncountable when referring to the general concept or the air itself (e.g., 'short of breath').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The word is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotations are identical.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[V] a breath (take, hold, catch)[Adj] breath (bad, deep, short of)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a breath of fresh air”
- “don't hold your breath”
- “in the same breath”
- “take your breath away”
- “under your breath”
- “waste your breath”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically, e.g., 'The new CEO was a breath of fresh air for the company.'
Academic
Used in biological/physiological contexts, e.g., 'Measurements of breath composition were taken.'
Everyday
Commonly used for physical state, e.g., 'I'm out of breath from running.'
Technical
Used in medical contexts (e.g., 'breath analysis') and in phrases like 'breath weapon' in gaming/fantasy.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He went outside to breathe the fresh country air.
- Try to breathe deeply and relax.
American English
- I need to step out and breathe for a moment.
- Remember to breathe in through your nose.
adverb
British English
- He whispered breathlessly about the surprise.
- She waited breathlessly for the results.
American English
- The children listened breathlessly to the story.
- He spoke breathlessly after sprinting to class.
adjective
British English
- It was a breath-taking view from the cliff.
- The patient was breathless after the exertion.
American English
- The mountain vista was truly breathtaking.
- She was breathless with excitement.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She took a deep breath before speaking.
- His breath was visible in the cold air.
- I need to catch my breath.
- The news left me short of breath for a moment.
- He has bad breath in the morning.
- She held her breath underwater for 30 seconds.
- The sheer beauty of the landscape took my breath away.
- There wasn't a breath of wind on the lake that morning.
- He muttered the answer under his breath.
- Her innovative approach to the problem was a breath of fresh air for the team.
- The critic praised and panned the film in the same breath.
- A faint breath of scandal began to surround the politician.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'breath' (noun, ends with 'th' as in 'cloth') as the thing you take. 'Breathe' (verb, ends with 'the') is the action you do.
Conceptual Metaphor
BREATH IS LIFE (e.g., 'the breath of life'); BREATH IS TIME (e.g., 'in one breath'); BREATH IS AN INDICATION (e.g., 'a breath of scandal').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'дыхание' (the process) vs. 'вздох' (a single breath/act). 'Breath' can be either. 'Breath' is the noun; the verb is 'to breathe' ('дышать').
- Avoid calquing phrases like 'on one breath' for 'in one go' – use the correct idiom 'in one breath' or 'in one go'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing spelling with verb 'breathe'.
- Using uncountable where countable is needed, e.g., 'I need breath' vs. 'I need to take a breath'.
- Mispronouncing /breθ/ as /briːð/ (which is 'breathe').
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase means 'don’t expect it to happen soon'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Breath' (/breθ/) is a noun meaning the air you inhale/exhale. 'Breathe' (/briːð/) is a verb meaning the act of inhaling and exhaling.
It can be both. It's countable when referring to a single act (e.g., 'take a breath'). It's uncountable when referring to the general air or ability to respire (e.g., 'short of breath').
It means someone or something that is new, different, and refreshing in a pleasing way.
Pronounce it as /breθ/ (like 'b' + 'r' + 'e' as in 'red' + 'th' as in 'thing'). Be careful not to voice the final 'th' (/ð/), which is for the verb 'breathe'.
Collections
Part of a collection
Health and Body
A2 · 48 words · Talking about health, illness and medical care.