Phrase guide

take a breather

verb · 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

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To take a break; to pause or relax briefly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Why don't we stop and take a breather before we continue?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

take a short break from one's activities in order to relax

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rest, breathe, catch one's breath

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: pause, intermit, break

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: hengähtää — to take a break
  • French: souffler — to take a break
  • German: eine Pause machen — to take a break
  • Polish: odsapywać — to take a break
  • Polish: odsapnąć — to take a break
  • Russian: передохнуть (peredoxnutʹ) — to take a break
  • Spanish: hacer una pausa — to take a break