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Exhale vs Sigh - What's the difference?

exhale | sigh |

In intransitive terms the difference between exhale and sigh

is that exhale is to pass off in the form of vapour; to emerge while sigh is to make a sound like sighing.

In transitive terms the difference between exhale and sigh

is that exhale is to draw out; to cause to be emitted in vapour while sigh is to express by sighs; to utter in or with sighs.

As a noun sigh is

a deep and prolonged audible inspiration or respiration of air, as when fatigued, frustrated, grieved, or relieved; the act of sighing.

As an interjection sigh is

an expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, frustration, or the like, often used in casual written contexts.

exhale

English

Verb

(exhal)
  • To expel air from the lungs through the nose or mouth by action of the diaphragm.
  • To pass off in the form of vapour; to emerge.
  • * 2008 , Gregor Dallas, Metrostop Paris , John Murray 2009, p. 9:
  • Above was a tiled roof – though from that imperfect tiling exhaled stench and pestilence.
  • To expel (something) from the lungs by action of the diaphragm.
  • To emit (a vapour, an odour, etc.).
  • The earth exhales''' vapor; marshes '''exhale noxious effluvia.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • Less fragrant scents the unfolding rose exhales .
  • To draw out; to cause to be emitted in vapour.
  • The sun exhales the moisture of the earth.

    Synonyms

    * outbreathe, breathe out, expire (archaic) * outbreathe, breathe out, expire (archaic)

    Antonyms

    * inbreathe, breathe in, inhale * inbreathe, breathe in, inspire

    Derived terms

    * exhalation

    sigh

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A deep and prolonged audible inspiration or respiration of air, as when fatigued, frustrated, grieved, or relieved; the act of sighing.
  • Figuratively, a manifestation of grief; a lament.
  • (Cockney rhyming slang) A person who is bored.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it; to make a deep single audible respiration, especially as the result or involuntary expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, frustration, or the like.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
  • , chapter=5 citation , passage=A waiter brought his aperitif, which was a small scotch and soda, and as he sipped it gratefully he sighed .
       ‘Civilized,’ he said to Mr. Campion. ‘Humanizing.’ […] ‘Cigars and summer days and women in big hats with swansdown face-powder, that's what it reminds me of.’}}
  • To lament; to grieve.
  • * Bible, Mark viii. 12
  • He sighed deeply in his spirit.
  • To utter sighs over; to lament or mourn over.
  • To experience an emotion associated with sighing.
  • To make a sound like sighing.
  • * Coleridge
  • And the coming wind did roar more loud, / And the sails did sigh like sedge.
  • * Tennyson
  • The winter winds are wearily sighing .
  • To exhale (the breath) in sighs.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Never man sighed truer breath.
  • To express by sighs; to utter in or with sighs.
  • * Shakespeare
  • They sighed forth proverbs.
  • * Hoole
  • The gentle swain sighs back her grief.
  • (archaic) To utter sighs over; to lament or mourn over.
  • * Prior
  • Ages to come, and men unborn, / Shall bless her name, and sigh her fate.

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • An expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, frustration, or the like, often used in casual written contexts.
  • Sigh , I'm so bored at work today.

    Anagrams

    *