Inhaling
/ɪnˈheɪlɪŋ/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo breathe in; to draw air or something else into the lungs.
/ɪnˈheɪl/
To breathe in; to draw air, smoke, or vapor into the lungs.
He inhaled deeply and savored the scent of the ocean.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're smelling a delicious pizza – you're taking a big sniff, right? That's like inhaling! It's breathing something in.
👶 For kids: Taking a big breath in.
More Examples
The firefighters had to wear masks to avoid inhaling smoke.
She practiced yoga, focusing on inhaling and exhaling slowly.
How It's Used
"The doctor instructed the patient to inhale deeply."
"She was inhaling the aroma of freshly baked bread."
"They are concerned about inhaling the polluted air."
The action of breathing in.
/ˈɪnˌheɪl/
The act of breathing in.
The deep inhalation relieved her stress.
💡 Simply: It's the moment you're breathing *in* - that feeling of the air going into your lungs. It's the 'in' part of breathing.
👶 For kids: When you take a breath in.
More Examples
The inhalations and exhalations of breathing are essential for life.
The athlete practiced controlled inhalations to improve his performance.
How It's Used
"The doctor noted the patient's shallow inhalations."
"A deep inhalation calmed her nerves."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms
From Middle English *inhalen*, from Old French *haler* ('to breathe, to draw in') and *en-* ('in') + *hale* ('to breathe').
The word 'inhale' has been used since the 15th century.
Memory tip
Imagine a person *in* a *hale* (healthy) state, drawing air *in* to their lungs to stay healthy.
Word Origin
"to draw in"