breathing: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to formal
Quick answer
What does “breathing” mean?
The process of taking air into and expelling it from the lungs.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The process of taking air into and expelling it from the lungs; the act of inhaling and exhaling.
A slight movement or sign of life; a pause or respite; the manner in which someone breathes (e.g., heavy breathing).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Minor potential differences in compound terms (e.g., 'breathing space' is common in both, but 'breathing room' is slightly more American).
Connotations
Largely identical. In technical/medical contexts (e.g., 'respiration'), usage is the same.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “breathing” in a Sentence
[adjective] breathingbreathing [noun]have difficulty breathingstop breathingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “breathing” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was breathing heavily after climbing the stairs.
- Remember to breathe through your nose during the exercise.
American English
- She breathed a sigh of relief when the test was over.
- It's so polluted, it's hard to breathe clean air.
adverb
British English
- (Rare as a pure adverb; typically 'breathlessly') He ran breathing heavily up the hill.
American English
- (Rare as a pure adverb) She spoke breathing raggedly into the phone.
adjective
British English
- She uses a breathing app for meditation.
- The doctor listened to his breathing sounds.
American English
- He took a breathing break between sets.
- The yoga instructor taught a breathing technique.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically: 'The loan extension gave the company some breathing space.'
Academic
In biology/medicine: 'The study monitored the breathing patterns of neonates.'
Everyday
Describing a state: 'After the run, his breathing was heavy.'
Technical
In engineering: 'The building's design allows for natural ventilation and breathing.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “breathing”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “breathing”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “breathing”
- Misspelling as 'breating' (missing 'h').
- Using 'breath' (noun) where 'breathing' (gerund/action) is needed, e.g., 'I could hear his heavy breath' (less common) vs. 'I could hear his heavy breathing' (standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In the dictionary entry, 'breathing' is primarily the gerund (noun) form of the verb 'breathe'. It functions as a noun (e.g., 'His breathing was loud'), but can also be used in compound adjectives (e.g., 'breathing apparatus').
'Breath' is a countable noun referring to a single instance of air taken in or expelled (e.g., 'Take a deep breath'). 'Breathing' is an uncountable noun referring to the continuous process or action (e.g., 'His breathing is regular').
Yes, in fields like medicine, biology, sports science, and even engineering (e.g., 'building breathing' for moisture exchange), it has specific technical applications, often synonymous with 'respiration' or 'ventilation'.
Yes, several common idioms use 'breath' (the noun) metaphorically, such as 'a breathing space' (a pause/rest), 'breathing down someone's neck' (watching closely), and 'waste your breath' (talk uselessly).
The process of taking air into and expelling it from the lungs.
Breathing is usually neutral to formal in register.
Breathing: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbriːðɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbriðɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a breathing space”
- “breathing down someone's neck”
- “don't waste your breath”
- “save your breath”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'breath' (the noun) + 'ing' for the action. You need a 'breath' to do the 'breathing'.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS BREATHING ('a breathing corpse'); FREEDOM/ROOM IS BREATHING SPACE; PRESSURE IS RESTRICTED BREATHING.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'breathing' used metaphorically?