Breather: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when someone needs a short, informal break to catch their breath or take a quick moment to relax. Often implies a brief and rejuvenating period. Informal and casual.

• After running up the stairs, she needed a breather before continuing her work.
• He decided to take a quick breather after the intense discussion.

A general term for a period of rest or pause from work or an activity. It can be short or extended and is commonly used in both formal and informal settings.

• The employees were eagerly waiting for their lunch break.
• Let's take a five-minute break before we move on to the next topic.

Refers to a longer period of relaxation or sleep, usually needed to recover energy. It is more general and formal, often implying a more significant recovery time.

• After a long day at work, he needed a good night's rest.
• Doctors recommend plenty of rest for a speedy recovery.

Indicates a temporary stop or interruption in an activity or process. Often used in formal contexts or when talking about stopping something for a short time before continuing.

• She paused the movie to answer the phone.
• After thinking for a moment, he decided to pause the project discussion until more data was available.

Use when referring to a short break to rest and recover, often after physical activity or work.

• Let's take a breather before continuing the hike.
• I need a quick breather from this paperwork.

Use to describe a long, audible breath indicating emotions such as weariness, frustration, or disappointment. It often carries a negative connotation.

• She sighed deeply after hearing the bad news.
• He let out a sigh of frustration when his computer crashed.

Use when talking about the physical act of breathing out, often in a calm or controlled manner. It can also be metaphorically used to describe releasing tension.

• She took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.
• After hearing the good news, he exhaled in relief.