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to pant

to pant

95 1.6
To breathe quickly and loudly, often after exercise or excitement
  • verb
  • /pænt/
translation icon : jadear
  • After sprinting to catch the bus, he stood on the sidewalk, panting heavily and trying to catch his breath.
  • pant for breath

Examples

  • "I ran up the stairs," she panted, putting down a yellow umbrella.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • With us in the hot shade, two dogs pant and collect flies.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • You just pant and breathe and count.

  • I'm going to go sit down and pant so I'll see you guys when I need to wash my face.

  • "I have to hold myself back," said his mother, panting and turning away.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Eventually, he wore himself out and sat panting on the floor to recover.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The vision burst, and he jerked his eyes wide, panting into the chill wind.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • I reach the summit of the Col de Clapier Pass, panting for breath, my heart thudding in my chest.

    Academic text (2007)
  • When the coughing eased, he lay panting, his forehead wet with sweat, his eyes closed.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The muscles of her legs trembled from fatigue as she shivered and panted, teetering from exhaustion.

    Fiction book (1992)

Synonyms

to heave
vsto pant
19 4.3

To breathe out loudly because of effort or strong feeling

is quicker and noisier and often follows exercise or excitement
to puff
vsto pant
19 1.4

To breathe out quickly and loudly

is repeated noisy breathing in and out after exertion
to hyperventilate
vsto pant
18 7.5

Breathe too quickly and deeply, often because you feel very scared

is noisy fast breathing after exertion not a medical imbalance
to pant after
vsto pant
6.1

Breathe with short, fast breaths after hard exercise or excitement

is similar but can happen in other situations including when speaking
to pant for air
vsto pant
3.5

To breathe quickly and loudly after hard exercise

can also be noisy while speaking and not only from air shortage

Phrasal Verbs

Breathe with short, fast breaths after hard exercise or excitement

To breathe quickly and loudly after hard exercise

Compounds

11 1.2

The part of trousers that covers one leg

A pair of light brown trousers worn for casual or smart casual events

How Hard

gasp
312 1.8
to pant
95 1.6
to puff
19 1.4
to breathe
1.0

Surface Forms

pant infinitive
panted past
panted past participle
panting present participle
pants third person singular

Etymology

Pant as a verb comes from the same sound word that copies heavy breathing. So to pant is to breathe quickly and noisily, often after running or excitement.