breather

noun

breath·​er ˈbrē-t͟hər How to pronounce breather (audio)
1
: one that breathes
2
: a break in activity for rest or relief
3
: a small vent in an otherwise airtight enclosure

Examples of breather in a Sentence

He decided to give them a breather. took a breather from the seemingly endless task of sorting through years of stuff stored in the attic
Recent Examples on the Web Consumers took a breather after a strong holiday shopping season, cold and stormy weather kept many at home, tax refunds were delayed and gas station sales dipped but for a good reason: lower prices. USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2024 Of all the tired legs in that locker room, the kid who helped beat the Heat last June might need a breather more than most. Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 15 Feb. 2024 Gusts of wind take a breather tonight, briefly nearing calm conditions in the pre-dawn hours. A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2024 For more of an intimate and peaceful experience, however, travelers can take a momentary breather on the interior-facing (and zen-like) terrace. Chris Dong, Travel + Leisure, 14 Feb. 2024 Whoopi Goldberg needed a breather when the conversation turned to foot fetishes on The View. Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 10 Jan. 2024 Other bitcoin and crypto market watchers have predicted the spot bitcoin hype rally, which began last year as expectations surged the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was about to green light a dozen spot bitcoin ETFs, could be just taking a breather before resuming. Billy Bambrough, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024 In the early days of Israel’s counteroffensive against Hamas, the terrorist group begged for a breather. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 27 Dec. 2023 After taking in the beauty of the Tyrolean mountains, pause for a breather at the resort’s spa area, featuring panoramic pools, steamy baths, and a solarium. 7. Gia Yetikyel, Vogue, 15 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'breather.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of breather was in 1609

Dictionary Entries Near breather

Cite this Entry

“Breather.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breather. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

breather

noun
breath·​er ˈbrē-t͟hər How to pronounce breather (audio)
1
: one that breathes
2
: a pause for rest : break

Medical Definition

breather

noun
breath·​er ˈbrē-t͟hər How to pronounce breather (audio)
: one that breathes usually in a specified way see mouth breather

More from Merriam-Webster on breather

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