What does breathless mean?
"Breathless" is an adjective with two closely related meanings. Its literal sense describes someone who is momentarily unable to breathe normally, usually because of strenuous activity such as running, climbing stairs, or carrying something heavy — "he was breathless by the top of the hill." Its figurative sense extends this idea to emotion and perception: a scene, performance, or piece of writing can be described as "breathless" when it is so exciting, beautiful, or tense that it seems to stop the viewer's breath, as in "a breathless finale." The word also appears in descriptions of rapid, excited delivery — "she gave a breathless account of her trip." Derived forms include the adverb "breathlessly" and the noun "breathlessness," which is more common in medical contexts. Formed simply from "breath" plus the suffix "-less," it has carried these senses since at least the early seventeenth century and remains vivid and widely used in everyday English.
Out of breath, especially from physical exertion, excitement, or anxiety.
"By the time they reached the platform, she was breathless from running."
Most common sense in everyday speech.
(Of an experience, scene, or narrative) so exciting, beautiful, or tense as to leave one momentarily unable to breathe; delivered with excited urgency.
"The novel opens with a breathless chase through the streets of Lisbon."
Often admiring, but can imply excessive haste or gushing tone in critical contexts.
The word "breathless" has been doing double duty for over four centuries — first describing exhausted lungs, then borrowed to describe beauty so striking it quite literally stops the air in your throat.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of breathless
"Breathless" is formed within Old and Middle English word-formation patterns from "breath" — itself from Old English "brǣth," meaning vapour, exhalation, or scent — combined with the suffix "-less," indicating absence. It has been used in its literal sense of being out of breath since at least the early seventeenth century, and its extended figurative sense developed naturally alongside it. Cognate words sharing the same root include "breathe" (the verb), "breathy," and the broader Germanic-derived vocabulary around breathing and life.
Related word forms
How breathless is actually used
Commonly used both literally (after running or climbing) and figuratively (to describe suspenseful storytelling, stunning scenery, or excited speech). The figurative sense often carries an admiring connotation. In journalism, "a breathless account" can carry a mildly critical note of overexcited, gossipy reporting.
Easily confused with breathless
"Breathtaking" describes something that takes your breath away (awe-inspiring), while "breathless" describes a person who has lost their breath — either literally from exertion or figuratively from awe.
A "breathalyser" is a device that measures alcohol in exhaled breath; "breathless" is an adjective describing the state of being without or out of breath.