1 A2 neutral
to draw air into your lungs
"Breathe in slowly through your nose."
inseparable
breathe in
A2 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
to take air or a smell into your lungs
In plain English
to pull air into your body through your nose or mouth
What does "breathe in" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic neutral
to take in a smell, atmosphere, or experience deeply
"She stood on the balcony and breathed in the sea air."
mixed
Usage tip
Very common in health, meditation, and everyday instructions. Often paired with 'breathe out'.
Words that pair with "breathe in"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
air deeply slowly smoke fresh air scent
How to conjugate "breathe in"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
breathe in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
breathes in
he/she/it
Past simple
breathed in
yesterday
Past participle
breathed in
have + pp
-ing form
breathing in
continuous
Hear "breathe in" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "breathe in" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "breathe in"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.