Standard Lemma guide

perspire

verb · 4 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.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /pəˈspaɪə(ɹ)/
  • Canada, General-American: /pɚˈspaɪɹ/
  • Canada, General-American: /pɚˈspaɪɚ/
  • California: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australian: /pəˈspɑɪə(ɹ)/
  • rhymes with -aɪə(ɹ)
  • CMU ARPABET: P ER0 S P AY1 R Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To emit (sweat or perspiration) through the skin's pores.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ambitransitive

Examples

  • I was perspiring freely after running the marathon.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sweat

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To be evacuated or excreted, or to exude, through the pores of the skin.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • A fluid perspires.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To cause (someone) to sweat.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ambitransitive, rare

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sweat

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

excrete perspiration through the pores in the skin

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Exercise makes one sweat

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sweat, sudate

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: excrete, egest, eliminate, pass

Narrower terms: swelter

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French perspirer and its source Latin perspīrō (“to breathe everywhere, blow constantly”), from per (“through”) + spīrō (“to breathe”); see spirit.