What does wheezed mean?
“Wheezed” is the past tense and past participle of the verb “wheeze.” It describes breathing through a narrowed throat in a loud, strained, often rasping sound, especially during asthma, illness, severe exertion, or respiratory distress. The word can also describe laughter that is broken by breathlessness: a person may wheeze with laughter, producing a sequence of high-pitched or noisy breaths. In ordinary writing, “wheezed” usually suggests that the sound is noticeable and potentially difficult rather than merely a quiet breath. Its usefulness lies in making the quality of breathing vivid and giving context through familiar expressions such as “wheezed for breath.” The verb is common in both British and American English and is used in literal medical or physical descriptions as well as figurative descriptions of forced or uncontrollable laughter.
verbWheezed is the past tense and past participle of wheeze, meaning to breathe with a loud, strained rasp, often because of asthma, illness, or exertion. It can also describe laughing in a breathless, noisy manner.
- Breathed with a loud, strained rasp, typically because of narrowed airways, illness, or exertion.
- Laughed in a breathless, noisy manner.
"After climbing the steep stairs, he wheezed for breath."
"The child wheezed throughout the night while the doctor listened to her chest."
"The audience wheezed with laughter at the comedian's unexpected joke."
A wheeze can signal illness or exhaustion—and sometimes the very different condition of uncontrollable laughter.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of wheezed
The verb entered English in the late 16th century, apparently as an imitation of the noisy, strained sound associated with difficult breathing. It developed into the common verb wheeze, whose inflected form is wheezed, and the related adjective wheezy. The precise origin of the imitative formation is uncertain, and no foreign-language cognate is needed to explain the word.
How wheezed is actually used
Wheezed is used in both literal and figurative contexts. It is especially common when describing breathing associated with respiratory illness or physical strain, while descriptions of laughter often use the expression wheezed with laughter.