adv · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:B R EH1 TH L AH0 S L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adv
Meaning 1
In a breathless manner, usually due to excitement, exertion, etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adverb
Meaning 2
in a breathless manner
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
she spoke breathlessly
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English breathless Middle English -ly English -ly English breathlessly From breathless + -ly.
Across languages
Translations
2 source translations are retained for this English entry.