sigh

1 of 2

verb

ˈsī 

sighed; sighing; sighs

intransitive verb

1

: to take a deep audible breath (as in weariness or relief)

2

: to make a sound like sighing

wind sighing in the branches

3

: grieve, yearn

sighing for days gone by

transitive verb

1

: to express by sighs

2

archaic : to utter sighs over : mourn

sigher

ˈsī(-ə)r 

noun

sigh

2 of 2

noun

1

: an often involuntary act of sighing especially when expressing an emotion or feeling (such as weariness or relief)

2

: the sound of gently moving or escaping air

sighs of the summer breeze

Synonyms

Verb

• sough

Examples of sigh in a Sentence

Verb

He sighed with relief when he saw that he passed the test.

The wind sighed through the trees.

“I may never see my old home again,” she sighed.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Jude Bellingham sighed and looked up to the sky — goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and centre-back Eder Militao had already suffered the same injury that campaign (Militao is currently out with an ACL injury). —Mario Cortegana, The Athletic, 18 Jan. 2025

Brady and Lark are sigh back together and siiiighhhhh full speed ahead. —Sara Netzley, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024

Noun

Plus: Toronto finally signed a big bat, and Ken has more on … *sigh* … look, the Dodgers are just doing more than anyone else, OK? —Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025

By Saturday evening, much of the region breathed a collective sigh of relief. —Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English sihen, alteration of sichen, from Old English sīcan; akin to Middle Dutch versiken to sigh

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sigh

• breathe a sigh of relief

Kids Definition

sigh

1 of 2 verb

ˈsī 

1

: to take or let out a long loud breath (as in weariness or relief)

2

: to make a sound like sighing

wind sighing in the branches

3

: yearn sense 1

sighing for the good old days

sigh

2 of 2 noun

1

: an often involuntary act of sighing especially when expressing a feeling

2

: the sound of gently moving or escaping air

the sighs of a summer breeze