breathless

/ˈbreθləs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbreθləs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbreth-ləs/ (ame, mw)

breathless — 形容詞

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

1.形容詞B2
釋義

喘不過氣

呼吸困難或喘得很急

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.

翻過最後一個山坡後，Priya 站在路標旁喘不過氣。

after effort: stand breathless

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

男孩們衝上樓梯到十樓後，全都喘不過氣。

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

屏息

因興奮或緊張而說不出話

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.

最後一位舞者走上台時，觀眾立刻屏息。

formal description in a tense moment

Nadia waited breathless outside the exam room for her name.

Nadia 在考場外屏息等著叫到自己的名字。

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

悶熱的

沒有風，空氣悶住

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.

到了中午，帳篷在炎熱的夏日陽光下變得很悶熱。

describes a place with still air

Noa opened every window, but the room stayed breathless.

Noa 把每扇窗都打開了，但房間還是很悶熱。

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.