breather

noun

breath·​er ˈbrē-t͟hər 

1

: one that breathes

2

: a break in activity for rest or relief

3

: a small vent in an otherwise airtight enclosure

Synonyms

• break
• breath
• interruption
• lull
• pause
• recess

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

If the atmosphere feels tense, a spontaneous, light-hearted remark can serve as a welcome breather. —Paul Boross Mbe, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025

Dani Olmo moves across to the left wing, so that a Raphinha called one of the best players in the world by Osasuna coach Vicente Moreno can catch a breather and Gavi can begin the proceedings as a CAM. —Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025

This final simmer step is hands-off, and creates a window for a pre-meal breather. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2025

Suddenly, Denver was protecting a 93-85 advantage with Jokic taking a breather. —Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 3 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for breather

• either
• neither

Kids Definition

breather

noun

breath·​er ˈbrē-t͟hər 

1

: one that breathes

2

: a pause for rest : break

Medical Definition

breather

noun

breath·​er ˈbrē-t͟hər 

: one that breathes usually in a specified way see mouth breather