Is it, “see your own breath“, or breathe? If the appropriate word choice in the sentence above befuddles you (that is, the difference between “breath” vs. “breathe”), then let’s all just take a deep breath as we parse out the difference.
“Breathe” vs. “breath”
Breathe and breath are simply different forms of the same word; i.e., they belong to separate parts of speech:
Breath, (which sounds like breth), is a noun that refers to the actual air we inhale and exhale when performing the action (read: verb) of breathing, or inhaling and exhaling air from our lungs.
Breathe, (with an elongated “e”, like bre–ee–th), is a verb that refers to the essential life-sustaining action of inhaling and exhaling oxygen to and from our lungs.
Sentences with breath and breathe
| Sentences with the noun breath | Sentences with the verb breathe |
| His breath stinks of garlic. | He breathed deeply before speaking again. |
Because breathe is an action and verb, it has different forms based on its tense (e.g., breathe, breathed, breathing).
Phrases with “breath”
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| With bated-breath | Meaning don’t wait for something to happen or expect it to happen. |
| To waste one’s breath/a waste of one’s breath | Meaning something is not worth discussing since it won’t be taken into consideration or acknowledgement. |
| Be holding your breath/don’t hold your breath | Don’t wait around expecting that something will happen. |
| Catch a breath | To give someone a chance to breathe, or a moment to catch their breath. |
| A breath of fresh air | Said when something is refreshing or a welcome change from before. |
| All in one breath | When someone says or does something extremely quickly. |
| Jungle breath | Meaning terrible or foul-smelling breath. |
| Take a deep breath | Literal; to inhale oxygen and exhale. |
| To swear under one’s breath | To say something inconspicuously so as no one hears. |
| Take someone’s breath away | For someone to be overwhelmed by intense feelings, usually of passion or love. |
| Keep your breath to cool your porridge | Focus on your life and your own issues rather than dwelling on other people’s problems. |
| The breath of life | Those things which we need to live and survive. |
Phrases with “breathe”
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| To be able to breathe freely again | To feel relieved after dealing with something difficult or stressful. |
| To breathe new life into someone or something | To reinvigorate something that’s become dull or monotonous. |
| Breathe one’s last breath | To die; literal. |
| To breathe a sigh of relief | To feel or show relief towards or about something. |
| Not a breathe a word of something | To keep something a secret, not to mention it to anyone. |
| Eat, breathe and sleep | To dedicate all of one’s time to something (sort of like how we are with Grammarflex!) |
| Breathe fire | To strongly express anger towards someone or something. |
| As I live and breathe! | An expression of amazement; similar to ‘Wow!’ |
| Hardly have time to breathe | To not have the time to do anything; to be short on time. |
| Breathe easy | To feel relief, perhaps after something stressful. |
Synonyms of “breathe”
- inhale
- exhale
- draw in air
- sigh
Origin of the word breath/breathe
Old English bræð “odor, scent, stink, exhalation, vapor” (the Old English word for “air exhaled from the lungs” was æðm), from Proto-Germanic *bræthaz “smell, exhalation”.
Read about other confusing words
- Is it Elude or Allude?
- When to Use Infer vs Imply
- Is it Allot, A lot or Alot?
- Which is it: Allusion or Illusion?
- Insure, Ensure or Assure?
- Already or All Ready?
Sources
- Breath, Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, accessed on Oct 9, 2023.
- Breathe, Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, accessed on Oct 9, 2023.
- Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of breath.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/breath. Accessed 9 October, 2023.
- “Breath.” TheFreeDictionary.com. 2023. Farlex, Inc. 3 Nov. 2023 https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/breath
- “Breathe.” McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. 2002. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 3 Nov. 2023 https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/breathe
