sigh
B2Neutral to formal; also common in literary contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To let out a long, deep, audible breath expressing sadness, relief, tiredness, or similar emotion.
Used metaphorically for objects or nature to produce a sound resembling a human sigh; also means to yearn or feel sorrowful for something in the past or lost.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily associated with emotional states like resignation, longing, weariness, or relief. As a noun, it denotes the act or sound of sighing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal differences in usage. Spelling and meaning are identical.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in British English literary/colloquial usage, but not statistically significant.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Sigh (intransitive)Sigh something (transitive, e.g., 'sigh a reply')Sigh + prepositional phrase (e.g., 'sigh with relief', 'sigh for the past')Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a sigh of relief”
- “sigh for the moon (to wish for something unattainable)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; might appear in narratives about workplace stress or relief after a project.
Academic
Rare in technical writing; appears in literary analysis or psychology texts discussing emotional expression.
Everyday
Common in conversation and narratives to express personal feelings.
Technical
Used in phonetics/voice analysis to describe a type of breathy phonation.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- 'I suppose we must,' she sighed, looking at the rain.
- He sighed wearily before starting the long marking.
American English
- 'Okay, let's do it,' he sighed, grabbing his tools.
- She sighed in frustration at the traffic report.
adverb
British English
- 'Never mind,' she said sighingly.
- (archaic/rare)
American English
- He answered sighingly, knowing he had lost.
- (archaic/rare)
adjective
British English
- The sighing wind through the pines was melancholy.
- (rare)
American English
- He spoke in a sighing tone of resignation.
- (rare)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He sighed because he was tired.
- She gave a big sigh.
- I heard her sigh of disappointment.
- He sighed with relief when he passed the test.
- 'It's over,' she sighed, putting down the phone.
- The old man would often sigh for the days of his youth.
- The novel's protagonist spends pages sighing over lost opportunities, a symbol of his inertia.
- The wind sighed through the canyon, an eerie, persistent sound.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the word 'SIGH' as the sound 'Sss-aye' you make when tired – it rhymes with 'why', as in 'Why am I so tired?' *Sigh*.
Conceptual Metaphor
SADNESS IS A BURDEN (released through a sigh); RELIEF IS RELEASE OF PRESSURE (expelled with a sigh).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating directly as 'скучать' (to miss/bore) – 'sigh for' implies longing, not general missing.
- Not equivalent to 'задыхаться' (to choke/gasp).
- The noun 'sigh' is конкретное действие, not a general state.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'She sighed to the news.' Correct: 'She sighed at the news.'
- Incorrect: 'He made a deep sigh.' (less natural). Correct: 'He gave/let out a deep sigh.'
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'sigh' used metaphorically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While often linked to sadness or weariness, it can also express positive relief ('sigh of relief') or contentment.
Yes, but it's less common. It can be used with words like 'answer', 'response', 'agreement' (e.g., '"Yes," he sighed').
A sigh is typically a softer, breathier sound of emotion. A groan is louder, deeper, and often expresses pain, strong displeasure, or sexual arousal.
They are largely synonymous. 'Heave a sigh' can imply a slightly more effortful or dramatic action, often for deeper emotion.