pant

1 of 5

verb

ˈpant 

panted; panting; pants

intransitive verb

1

a

: to breathe quickly, spasmodically, or in a labored manner

b

: to run panting

c

: to move with or make a throbbing or puffing sound

2

: to long eagerly : yearn

3

: throb, pulsate

transitive verb

: to utter with panting : gasp

pant

2 of 5

noun

1

a

: a panting breath

b

: the visible movement of the chest accompanying such a breath

2

: a throbbing or puffing sound

pant

3 of 5

variant of pants sense 1

pant

4 of 5

adjective

: of or relating to pants

a pant leg

pant-

5 of 5

combining form

variants or panto-

: all

pantisocracy

Synonyms

Verb

• blow
• gasp
• heave
• hyperventilate
• puff
• wheeze

Examples of pant in a Sentence

Verb

Dogs pant when they are hot.

The hikers were panting by the time they reached the top of the hill.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

But there was a lot of panting and putting his head into his hands. —Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 24 Jan. 2025

When southern Spain trembles in heat, when dogs seem to be panting their last breaths in narrow bands of shade in the white villages of Andalusia, northern Spain keeps cool. —Stanley Stewart, airmail.news, 31 Aug. 2024

Noun

Andrea, 67, for her part, kept warm in a black and gray winter coat, while Scott, 72, wore a dark blazer, a light blue button-up shirt and khaki pants. —Nicholas Rice, People.com, 18 Jan. 2025

My first instinct was to tuck pants into the boots with the fur on full display. —Rebecca Shinners, Travel + Leisure, 18 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, modification of Anglo-French panteiser, from Vulgar Latin *phantasiare to have hallucinations, from Greek phantasioun, from phantasia appearance, imagination — more at fancy

Combining form

Greek, from pant-, pas — more at pan-

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1513, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1892, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pant

• pant for breath
• yoga pant

Kids Definition

pant

verb

ˈpant

1

a

: to breathe hard or quickly : gasp

b

: to make a puffing sound

c

: to move forward with panting

the car panted up the hill

2

: to wish for eagerly : yearn

3

: to utter with panting

ran up and panted out the message

pant noun

Medical Definition

pant

intransitive verb

ˈpant 

: to breathe quickly, spasmodically, or in a labored manner