breathe
HighNeutral
Definition
Meaning
To take air into and expel it from the lungs.
To be alive; to take a short pause; to allow air or moisture to pass through; to express a feeling or quality quietly.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb denotes the physical act of respiration, but is often used metaphorically for life, rest, and subtle expression. It is distinct from the noun 'breath'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning or usage. Spelling remains the same. Pronunciation differs slightly in vowel length.
Connotations
In both varieties, connotations of life, calm, and necessity are identical.
Frequency
Equally high-frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Intransitive: 'He breathes.'Transitive with object (air/gas): 'She breathed the cool air.'With adverb/prepositional phrase: 'Breathe through your nose.'Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “breathe a sigh of relief”
- “breathe new life into”
- “breathe one's last”
- “don't breathe a word”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically: 'The new investment will breathe life into the project.'
Academic
Used in biological/physiological contexts: 'The organism breathes through its gills.'
Everyday
Common in health and relaxation contexts: 'Just breathe deeply and calm down.'
Technical
In medicine: 'The patient is breathing spontaneously.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Please breathe deeply during the relaxation exercise.
- After the race, he could barely breathe.
American English
- Breathe in that fresh mountain air!
- The patient started to breathe on his own.
adverb
British English
- He ran breathlessly to catch the train.
- She whispered breathlessly about the surprise.
American English
- They waited breathlessly for the final score.
- He spoke breathlessly after climbing the stairs.
adjective
British English
- She has a breathing condition that requires an inhaler.
- The doctor noted his breathing rate was normal.
American English
- This jacket is made of breathable fabric.
- He was found alive and breathing.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I can breathe here.
- Fish breathe in water.
- Breathe slowly.
- It's hard to breathe in a crowded room.
- You should breathe through your nose when you run.
- The doctor told him to breathe deeply.
- The new manager breathed new life into the team.
- After the ordeal, she could finally breathe easily again.
- The fabric allows your skin to breathe.
- The treaty allowed the region to breathe a collective sigh of relief.
- His poetry seems to breathe with a quiet, melancholic beauty.
- The company is struggling to breathe amidst the fierce competition.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember: 'breathe' with an 'e' is the verb (to breathe air), while 'breath' ends in 'th' and is the noun (take a breath). The 'e' in 'breathe' allows you to exhale the 'e' sound.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS BREATH (e.g., 'breathe life into'), CALM IS STEADY BREATHING (e.g., 'breathe easy'), SECRECY IS HOLDING BREATH (e.g., 'don't breathe a word').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Confusing 'breathe' (verb) with 'breath' (noun). In Russian, both translate to forms of 'дышать' (verb) and 'дыхание' (noun), leading to part-of-speech errors.
- Overusing 'breathe' for metaphorical 'inspire' or 'animate'; Russian may use 'вдохнуть' more broadly.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I need a breathe.' Correct: 'I need to breathe.' or 'I need a breath.'
- Incorrect spelling: 'breath' for the verb.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'breathe' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Breath' (pronounced /breθ/) is a noun meaning the air taken into or expelled from the lungs. 'Breathe' (pronounced /briːð/) is a verb meaning the act of taking air into and expelling it from the lungs.
Yes, though less common. It can take a direct object when referring to inhaling a specific substance (e.g., 'breathe oxygen', 'breathe the scent of flowers').
No, it is a regular verb. Its past tense and past participle are 'breathed' (/briːðd/ or /briðd/).
It means to watch someone very closely, often in a way that makes them feel pressured or nervous.