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

But if musicals and men in burlap skirts aren’t your thing, sigh, then there’s still a lot more to watch this weekend. —Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 22 Nov. 2024

The wind sighs three strong children, one consumptive and two gone. —Tomas Tranströmer, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024

Noun

The ebbs and flows of the game had several Seahawks players and coaches breathing huge sighs of relief in the postgame locker room. —Michael-Shawn Dugar, The Athletic, 2 Dec. 2024

Lin's daughter, Alice, told ABC News that her family could breathe a full sigh of relief now that others were following her father back to the United States. —Chris Boccia, ABC News, 27 Nov. 2024

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