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

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note is taking a breather from its recent climb, but still hovered above 4.2% on Friday. —Jim Cramer, CNBC, 1 Nov. 2024

The Broncos delivered a beatdown and earned a breather. —Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 21 Oct. 2024

The luxurious desert oasis was reportedly built by mobsters and offers an adults-only policy, which is a true escape for parents needing a breather. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2024

Job creation could take a breather, when the Labor Department releases the October numbers. —Jill Schlesinger, The Mercury News, 14 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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