as in pause
a momentary halt in an activity
took a breather from the seemingly endless task of sorting through years of stuff stored in the attic
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Recent Examples of breather
French President Emmanuel Macron wants European businesses to take a breather from investing in the U.S., at least until President Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariffs have more clarification.
—
Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 7 Apr. 2025
Hunting for a tying goal in the third, Rangers coach Peter Laviolette gave the top two lines a breather and sent out Sam Carrick, Jonny Brodzinski and Kreider — all guys who have scored a few this season.
—Arthur Staple, The Athletic, 17 Mar. 2025
If the atmosphere feels tense, a spontaneous, light-hearted remark can serve as a welcome breather.
—Paul Boross Mbe, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Dani Olmo moves across to the left wing, so that a Raphinha called one of the best players in the world by Osasuna coach Vicente Moreno can catch a breather and Gavi can begin the proceedings as a CAM.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for breather
Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 7 Apr. 2025
Hunting for a tying goal in the third, Rangers coach Peter Laviolette gave the top two lines a breather and sent out Sam Carrick, Jonny Brodzinski and Kreider — all guys who have scored a few this season.
—Arthur Staple, The Athletic, 17 Mar. 2025
If the atmosphere feels tense, a spontaneous, light-hearted remark can serve as a welcome breather.
—Paul Boross Mbe, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Dani Olmo moves across to the left wing, so that a Raphinha called one of the best players in the world by Osasuna coach Vicente Moreno can catch a breather and Gavi can begin the proceedings as a CAM.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for breather
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breather
Noun
-
This marks the end of a yearslong pause that began at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Schedule pauses, reflection time or even walks to reset your mind.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
There may be long lulls between meteors, so try to be patient between visible bursts of activity.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
22 Apr. 2025
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Harris Beach State Park, Oregon Beaches in the Pacific Northwest are less about idyllic lulls in the sand and instead emphasize the dramatic landscapes that make the region so well-loved by nature enthusiasts.—
Chloe Arrojado,
AFAR Media,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Pain at injection sites for people who use intramuscular (IM) vitamins Allergic reactions Fever Itching Rash Shortness of breath Rapid weight gain People who use B12 injections are more prone to allergic reactions than those using oral medications.—
Emmanuella Ogbonna,
Health,
29 Apr. 2025
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To many in Democratic politics and state government, Berman is a breath of fresh air.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Travelers will need to show documents with the following in order to get a REAL ID-compliant license or ID, per DHS: Need a break?—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
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Exposure to natural light and fresh air can help regulate your sleep cycle and give your mind a break from screens or daily stressors.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Breather.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breather. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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