noun · verb · 8 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
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/ˌɛksˈheɪ̯l/
[ˌɛksˈheɪ̯l]
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
/ɪɡˈzeɪ̯l/
archaic:[ɪɡˈzeɪ̯l]
rhymes with -eɪl
CMU ARPABET:EH0 K S HH EY1 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
An exhalation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To expel air from the lungs through the nose or mouth by action of the diaphragm, to breathe out.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To expel (something, such as tobacco smoke) from the lungs by action of the diaphragm.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To pass off in the form of vapour; to emerge.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To emit (a vapour, an odour, etc.).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
The earth exhales vapor; marshes exhale noxious effluvia.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
To draw out; to cause to be emitted in vapour.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
The sun exhales the moisture of the earth.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
verb
Meaning 7
expel air
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Exhale when you lift the weight
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: expire, breathe out
Antonyms: inhale
Broader terms: breathe, take a breath, respire, suspire
Narrower terms: snort, blow
8
verb
Meaning 8
give out (breath or an odor)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
The chimney exhales a thick smoke
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: give forth, emanate
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: emit, breathe, pass off
History
Etymology
From Middle French exhaler, from Latin exhalare, from ex (“out”) + halare (“to breathe”).
Across languages
Translations
78 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Afrikaans:
uitasem
— to breathe out
Arabic:
زَفَرَ
(zafara)
— to breathe out
Assamese:
নিশাহ লোৱা
(nixah lüa)
— to breathe out
Belarusian:
выдыха́ць
(vydyxácʹ)
— to breathe out
Belarusian:
вы́дыхнуць
(výdyxnucʹ)
— to breathe out
Bulgarian:
изди́швам
(izdíšvam)
— to breathe out
Bulgarian:
изди́шам
(izdíšam)
— to breathe out
Chinese Mandarin:
呼出
(hūchū)
— to breathe out
Czech:
vydechovat
— to breathe out
Czech:
vydechnout
— to breathe out
Danish:
ånde ud
— to breathe out
Dutch:
uitademen
— to breathe out
Finnish:
hengittää ulos
— to breathe out
French:
expirer
— to breathe out
Galician:
bafexar
— to breathe out
Galician:
expirar
— to breathe out
German:
ausatmen
— to breathe out
Greek:
εκπνέω
(ekpnéo)
— to breathe out
Ancient Greek:
ἐκπνέω
(ekpnéō)
— to breathe out
Hebrew:
נָשַׁף
(nasháf)
— to breathe out
White Hmong:
tso pa
— to breathe out
Irish:
asanálaigh
— to breathe out
Irish:
easanálaigh
— to breathe out
Italian:
espirare
— to breathe out
Japanese:
息を吐く
(iki o haku)
— to breathe out
Khmer:
ដកដង្ហើមចេញ
(dɑɑk dɑnghaəm cəñ)
— to breathe out
Korean:
내쉬다
(naeswida)
— to breathe out
Northern Kurdish:
henase dayîn
— to breathe out
Latin:
exhālō
— to breathe out
Macedonian:
издишува
(izdišuva)
— to breathe out
Macedonian:
издише
(izdiše)
— to breathe out
Māori:
whakahā
— to breathe out
Māori:
puha
— to breathe out
Norwegian Bokmål:
puste ut
— to breathe out
Polish:
wydychać
— to breathe out
Portuguese:
exalar
— to breathe out
Portuguese:
expirar
— to breathe out
Quechua:
samay
— to breathe out
Romanian:
expira
— to breathe out
Russian:
выдыха́ть
(vydyxátʹ)
— to breathe out
Russian:
вы́дохнуть
(výdoxnutʹ)
— to breathe out
Scottish Gaelic:
sèid
— to breathe out
Serbo-Croatian:
ѝздисати
— to breathe out
Serbo-Croatian:
изда̀хнути
— to breathe out
Serbo-Croatian:
ìzdisati
— to breathe out
Serbo-Croatian:
izdàhnuti
— to breathe out
Slovak:
vydychovať
— to breathe out
Slovak:
vydýchnuť
— to breathe out
Slovene:
izdihavati
— to breathe out
Slovene:
izdihniti
— to breathe out
Spanish:
espirar
— to breathe out
Spanish:
exhalar
— to breathe out
Swedish:
andas ut
— to breathe out
Sylheti:
ꠖꠝ ꠙꠣꠟꠣꠘꠤ
(dom falani)
— to breathe out
Telugu:
నిశ్వాసించు
(niśvāsiñcu)
— to breathe out
Thai:
หายใจออก
(hǎai-jai-ɔ̀ɔk)
— to breathe out
Tocharian B:
satāsk-
— to breathe out
Turkish:
nefes vermek
— to breathe out
Ukrainian:
видиха́ти
(vydyxáty)
— to breathe out
Ukrainian:
ви́дихнути
(výdyxnuty)
— to breathe out
Welsh:
anadlu allan
— to breathe out
Welsh:
allanadlu
— to breathe out
Yiddish:
אויסאָטעמען
(oysotemen)
— to breathe out
Catalan:
exhalar
— to expel from the lungs
Catalan:
expirar
— to expel from the lungs
Finnish:
hengittää ulos
— to expel from the lungs
Irish:
asanálaigh
— to expel from the lungs
Italian:
esalare
— to expel from the lungs
Slovak:
vydýchnuť
— to expel from the lungs
Slovak:
vydychovať
— to expel from the lungs
Welsh:
anadlu allan (rhywbeth)
— to expel from the lungs
Finnish:
huokua
— to pass off in the form of vapour
Galician:
bafexar
— to pass off in the form of vapour
Finnish:
huokua
— to emit vapour, odour, etc.
Galician:
bafexar
— to emit vapour, odour, etc.
Italian:
esalare
— to emit vapour, odour, etc.
Slovak:
uvoľňovať
— to emit vapour, odour, etc.
Finnish:
haihduttaa
— to cause to be emitted in vapour