breathless

/'breθlis/

Definition

Adjective:
- Unable to breathe easily, typically due to exertion, excitement, or illness: Describes a state where breathing is difficult, labored, or temporarily stopped.
- With intense excitement, suspense, or awe, causing one to feel as if holding one's breath: Describes an atmosphere, attention, or interest so absorbing that it figuratively takes one's breath away.
- (Archaic/Literary) Dead; no longer breathing: Describes a lifeless state.

Examples of Usage

Adjective (Physical State):
- She was breathless after climbing the steep hill.
- The asthma attack left him breathless and frightened.
Adjective (Emotional/Figurative State):
- The audience listened in breathless silence as the verdict was read.
- We watched the breathless final moments of the championship game.
Adjective (Archaic/Literary):
- He knelt beside the breathless body.

Advanced Usage

"breathless with": Used to indicate the cause of the breathlessness.
- She was breathless with anticipation before her performance.
- He was breathless with anger after the argument.
"breathless pace/speed": Describes something happening at an extremely fast, relentless rate.
- The novel is a breathless thriller that unfolds at a breathless pace.

Variants and Related Words

Breathlessly (adverb): In a breathless manner.
- They waited breathlessly for the results.
Breathlessness (noun): The state or condition of being breathless.
- The main symptom was a sudden onset of breathlessness.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

Hold one's breath: To stop breathing temporarily (often in anticipation).
- The similarity to the figurative use of "breathless" is clear: "The crowd held its breath" is synonymous with "The crowd was breathless."
Out of breath: Breathing with difficulty after exercise.
- This phrase is a common synonym for the physical state of being breathless.

Adjective

appearing dead; not breathing or having no perceptible pulse
- an inanimate body
- pulseless and dead
tending to cause suspension of regular breathing
- a breathless flight
- breathtaking adventure
not breathing or able to breathe except with difficulty
- breathless at thought of what I had done
- breathless from running
- followed the match with breathless interest

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