B1adjectivehealth
US/ˈbreθ.ləs/
UK/ˈbreθ.ləs/
having trouble breathing, usually after hard exercise or because of a strong feeling
In context
After running up five flights of stairs, I was completely breathless.
She arrived late and breathless, apologizing for the terrible traffic.
The final scene of the film left the whole audience breathless.
Words that go with breathless
adjective + preposition
- breathless with excitementThe children were breathless with excitement on the first day of Tet.
adverb + adjective
- a little breathlessI still feel a little breathless after climbing the stairs to my flat.
- slightly breathlessHe sounded slightly breathless when he finally answered the phone.
- completely breathlessThe steep hill left even the fittest runners completely breathless.
adjective + noun
- breathless voiceShe described the accident in a breathless voice, still shaking.
- breathless excitementFans waited in breathless excitement for the band to walk on stage.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
I was breathless of running.Correct: I was breathless from running.