exhale

/ɛksˈheɪl/
noun
  1. The act or process of breathing out; an exhalation.
    • In meditation, a long exhale can help calm the mind.
    • The doctor asked her to take a deep breath and then make a slow exhale.
    • He let out a sharp exhale when he stubbed his toe.
verb
  1. To breathe out air from the lungs.
    • He took a deep drag of his cigarette and then exhaled a cloud of smoke.
    • The yoga instructor told the class to exhale slowly through their noses.
    • After holding her breath underwater, she had to exhale quickly.
  2. To release or give off something, such as a gas, vapor, or odor.
    • The old car exhaled a puff of blue smoke from its exhaust pipe.
    • The volcano continued to exhale ash and steam for days.
    • Plants exhale oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis.
  3. To express or let out a feeling, especially relief or tension.
    • After hearing the good news, he could exhale the worry he had been holding.
    • She finally exhaled her frustration in a long, shaky sigh.
    • When the test was over, the whole class seemed to exhale in unison.
Antonyms