pant

1 of 5

verb

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

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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Phoebe, our dog, was panting, nervous, and running in circles around Dave. Claire Cameron, Outside Online, 3 Feb. 2025 The Pomeranians, Noel and Xena (named for the warrior princess, naturally), were maybe a bit too eager, panting in the arms of their mother, Cathy, president of the American Pomeranian Club, who was wearing a Chanel-reminiscent metallic tweed newsboy cap. Chloe Malle, Vogue, 28 Jan. 2025
Noun
Roach, known for styling A-list clients like Zendaya and Celine Dion, styled himself for courtside chic with a knee-length fur over a merlot sweater and silky pants in the same hue, an extra large Bottega Veneta woven leather clutch and oversized Chanel sunglasses as the finishing touches. Anika Reed, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025 These wide-leg pants are on sale for just $28 at Amazon. Nicol Natale, People.com, 10 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for pant 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of pant was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near pant

Cite this Entry

“Pant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pant. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on pant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!