Phrase guide

with bated breath

prep_phrase · 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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  • Received-Pronunciation, US: /wɪð ˈbeɪtɪd ˈbɹɛθ/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

prep_phrase

Meaning 1

With reduced breath.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

prep_phrase

Meaning 2

Eagerly; with great anticipation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • We are waiting with bated breath for the release of the new version.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From the verb bate, alteration by aphesis of the verb abate (“to reduce; lessen”). Coined by William Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice, see quotations.

Across languages

Translations

30 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Belarusian: з зато́еным дыха́ннем (z zatójenym dyxánnjem) — holding one's breath
  • Belarusian: затаі́ўшы дыха́нне (zataíwšy dyxánnje) — holding one's breath
  • Belarusian: стаі́ўшы дыха́нне (staíwšy dyxánnje) — holding one's breath
  • Bulgarian: със затае́н дъх (sǎs zataén dǎh) — holding one's breath
  • Czech: se zatajeným dechem — holding one's breath
  • Finnish: henkeä pidätellen — holding one's breath
  • French: en retenant son souffle — holding one's breath
  • German: mit angehaltenem Atem — holding one's breath
  • Hebrew: בקוצר רוח — holding one's breath
  • Korean: 숨을 죽이고 (sum-eul jugigo) — holding one's breath
  • Polish: z zapartym tchem — holding one's breath
  • Russian: затаи́в дыха́ние (zataív dyxánije) — holding one's breath
  • Slovak: so zatajeným dychom — holding one's breath
  • Spanish: conteniendo el aliento — holding one's breath
  • Swedish: med återhållen andedräkt — holding one's breath
  • Ukrainian: затамува́вши по́дих (zatamuvávšy pódyx) — holding one's breath
  • Dutch: met ingehouden adem — eagerly
  • Finnish: henkeä pidätellen — eagerly
  • French: avec impatience — eagerly
  • German: mit angehaltenem Atem — eagerly
  • Hungarian: lélegzet-visszafojtva — eagerly
  • Polish: z zapartym tchem — eagerly
  • Portuguese: prendendo o fôlego — eagerly
  • Portuguese: com a respiração em suspenso — eagerly
  • Portuguese: com a respiração suspensa — eagerly
  • Russian: затаи́в дыха́ние (zataív dyxánije) — eagerly
  • Spanish: pasmado — eagerly
  • Spanish: con aliento entrecortado — eagerly
  • Swedish: med andan i halsgropen — eagerly
  • Telugu: ఊపిరి బిగబట్టి (ūpiri bigabaṭṭi) — eagerly