Breathing Meaning
Breathing Definition & Usage
The act or process of inhaling and exhaling air in order to facilitate the respiration of living organisms.
Examples
- "His breathing became shallow after the long run."
- "The baby’s breathing was steady, and the doctors were relieved."
- "Yoga helps you control your breathing and calm your mind."
- "Breathing exercises are beneficial for those suffering from anxiety."
- "When climbing to high altitudes, you may find it harder to breathe."
The act of continuing or sustaining life or progress, often used metaphorically to represent survival or the continuation of something important.
Examples
- "The company was on the verge of collapse, but the new investment was like a breath of fresh air, breathing new life into it."
- "Her words were a breath of fresh air, breathing hope into the community."
- "The rain breathed new life into the parched land."
- "These new ideas are the breathing space the team needed to push forward."
- "The promise of peace breathed hope into the hearts of the people."
To inhale and exhale air, typically to maintain life or in response to physical or emotional conditions.
Examples
- "She tried to breathe deeply to calm herself."
- "The instructor told the students to breathe slowly during the meditation session."
- "He had to breathe quickly to recover from the intense workout."
- "As the stress built up, he forgot to breathe properly and felt lightheaded."
- "The nurse instructed him to breathe into the mask slowly."
Cultural Context
Breathing is an essential physiological process that sustains life by bringing oxygen into the body and expelling carbon dioxide. In many cultures, breath is also symbolic of life and spirit. Practices like yoga and meditation emphasize breath control as a means of mental and physical well-being. In modern contexts, 'breathing' is also used metaphorically to represent rejuvenation or relief, such as a 'breath of fresh air.'
The Breath of Life
Story
The Breath of Life
James sat on the park bench, watching the leaves flutter gently in the breeze. His chest rose and fell with each deep breath, the cool morning air filling his lungs and pushing away the last traces of anxiety. It had been a tough year—work pressures, personal challenges, and an overwhelming sense of fatigue had made him feel like he was barely surviving. But today, with each breath, he felt something shift inside him. His friend Laura joined him, noticing the peaceful look on his face. 'You look like you've found your center,' she said with a grin. 'Just breathing,' James replied, closing his eyes. 'Sometimes, that's all you need to do. Let the breath carry you forward.' Laura sat beside him, taking a deep breath of her own. The cool, fresh air seemed to breathe new life into her as well, like a cleansing wave. 'I’ve been meaning to do this more,' she admitted, 'but I always get caught up in everything else.' 'It's easy to forget,' James said. 'But breath is life. It keeps you moving, even when you think you can't.' As they sat in the tranquility of the park, their thoughts slowed, and the world around them seemed to pause. The breathing exercises they'd been practicing together had become their shared moment of escape—a moment to breathe and to simply be. Later that day, James had a breakthrough at work. He felt calmer, clearer. The stress of the past months had felt like a heavy weight, but now, with each breath, he felt more like himself again. 'Sometimes, it really is as simple as breathing,' he thought, a sense of peace settling in his chest. The day ended with a walk through the city, each breath of fresh air offering another layer of renewal. For the first time in a long while, James felt alive in the fullest sense of the word—breathing in hope, breathing out the past.
Related Words
