breathing

1 of 2

noun

breath·​ing ˈbrē-t͟hiŋ How to pronounce breathing (audio)
Synonyms of breathingnext
: either of the marks ʽ and ʼ used in writing Greek to indicate aspiration or its absence

breathing

2 of 2

present participle of breathe

Examples of breathing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
This magical thinking has extended into her current practice, which can feel both haunted by invisible bodies and animated by our own living and breathing ones. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 27 Oct. 2026 As the team tried to insert an infant-sized breathing tube, the baby died. — Jonathan E. Kohler, STAT, 27 Oct. 2026 Evie Lanitis, for instance, was devoted to Qigong, the traditional Chinese practice that combines movement, meditation, and intentional breathing. — D. T. Max, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026 The American Society of Anesthesiologists notes that uncontrolled postoperative pain can contribute to immobility and shallow breathing, which may increase the risk for complications including blood clots and pneumonia. — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 26 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for breathing

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1696, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of breathing was in 1696

Phrases Containing breathing

Rhymes for breathing

See All Rhymes for breathing

Browse Nearby Words

breathiness
breathing
breathing capacity
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Breathing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breathing. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on breathing

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for breathing

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about breathing

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