breathless

Everyday

1. Out of breath, breathing hard after running or effort. tree →
2. Very excited, amazed or eager, so that you almost stop breathing. tree →
3. (of air or weather) Still, with no wind. tree →

In the lessons

In PE and science lessons, exercise makes you breathless because your muscles need more oxygen. In health, feeling breathless for no reason can be a sign of illness or asthma, so tell an adult. In stories it shows excitement or fear: «breathless with excitement», «a breathless hush».

Examples

• I was breathless after running up the hill. tree →
• We watched the final in breathless silence. tree →
• She was breathless with excitement on her birthday. tree →
• The race left everyone breathless. tree →
• If you feel breathless at rest, tell an adult. tree →
• It was a breathless, hot afternoon with no breeze. tree →
• He arrived breathless, saying, «The bus has gone!» tree →
• Breathless they watched for the soaring of the red eagle. tree →

Note

Adjective: breath + -less (without breath). Adverb: breathlessly. Spelling: «breath» (noun) has no e at the end, «breathe» (verb) has one. Say «out of breath» in plain talk.