breathless

breathless — adjective

1. finding it hard to get enough air into your lungs, often after running, climbing

1.形容詞B2
釋義

finding it hard to get enough air into your lungs, often after running, climbing, shock, smoke, or illness.

例句

After the last hill, Priya stood breathless beside the trail sign.

after effort: stand breathless

The boys reached the tenth floor breathless after racing up the stairs.

同義詞
  • out of breath

    the most usual everyday phrase, especially after exercise

  • winded

    informal and often used for sudden loss of air after effort or a hit

  • gasping

    stronger and more vivid, showing quick desperate breaths

文法句型

be / feel / sound breathless

leave somebody breathless

用法筆記

Most often used after a linking verb such as 'be', 'feel', 'look', or 'sound'. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about real trouble getting air, not strong emotion.

常見錯誤

❌After climbing the stairs, I was breathless with my bag.
✅After climbing the stairs, I was breathless.
💡don't add 'with' here unless you are naming an emotion, as in sense 2.

2. so excited, anxious, or deeply moved that you seem unable to speak, move, or bre

2.形容詞C1
釋義

so excited, anxious, or deeply moved that you seem unable to speak, move, or breathe normally for a moment.

例句

The crowd fell breathless as the final dancer stepped onto the stage.

formal description in a tense moment

Nadia waited breathless outside the exam room for her name.

同義詞
  • awed

    focuses on wonder or respect more than general excitement or fear

  • spellbound

    suggests total attention, often while watching or listening

  • agitated

    more about nervous movement or worry than hushed intensity

反義詞
  • calm

    shows emotional control rather than tense excitement

  • unmoved

    suggests little or no emotional reaction

文法句型

be breathless with excitement / fear / surprise

wait / listen breathless

用法筆記

Usually found in literary or dramatic descriptions, often with 'with + emotion noun' or after verbs like 'wait' and 'listen'. Distinguish from sense 1, which is physical, not emotional.

常見錯誤

❌The class was breathless after running two miles.
✅The class was out of breath after running two miles.
💡this sense is emotional; use sense 1 for exercise or smoke.

3. having no breeze and very little fresh air, so the place feels closed, hot, or h

3.形容詞C2
釋義

having no breeze and very little fresh air, so the place feels closed, hot, or heavy.

例句

By noon, the tent felt breathless under the hot summer sun.

describes a place with still air

Noa opened every window, but the room stayed breathless.

同義詞
  • airless

    close in meaning, but more neutral and less literary

  • stuffy

    common everyday word for a room with unpleasant air

  • still

    describes lack of movement, but not always the heavy uncomfortable feeling

反義詞
  • breezy

    suggests pleasant moving air

  • windy

    means strong moving air, often outdoors

文法句型

a breathless room / evening / tent

the air feels breathless

用法筆記

Mostly literary and usually applied to air, rooms, evenings, or weather. Unlike sense 1, it describes the condition of a place, not a person's breathing.

常見錯誤

❌The beach was breathless and cool.
✅The beach was breezy and cool.
💡this sense suggests still air, often with heat or closeness, not refreshing wind.