barely breathe

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely breathe" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone is struggling to breathe, often due to exertion, anxiety, or a physical condition. Example: "After running the marathon, I could barely breathe as I crossed the finish line."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

I could barely breathe as its head jutted forward, teeth bared, eyes trained on some far off movement.

BBC

He could barely breathe".

The Guardian

I can barely breathe.

The New Yorker

Jeb could barely breathe.

The New Yorker

He said he could barely breathe.

The New York Times

I could barely breathe from running.

The New Yorker

I could barely breathe for happiness.

The New Yorker

"My mother can't walk, and she can barely breathe.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

That's barely breathing.

The New York Times

We barely breathed ourselves.

The New Yorker

"He's barely breathing".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barely breathe" to vividly describe physical distress, intense emotion, or environmental conditions that impede respiration. For example, "After the intense workout, I could "barely breathe".

Common error

Avoid using "barely breathe" excessively in overly dramatic or unrealistic scenarios. Reserve it for situations where the difficulty in breathing is genuinely significant to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely breathe" primarily functions as a descriptive phrase, often working as an adverbial modifier to describe the manner in which someone is breathing. It signifies a severe limitation or difficulty in the act of breathing, indicating distress, exertion, or some form of respiratory impairment. As Ludwig AI explains, it's a correct and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barely breathe" is a versatile expression used to depict difficulty in breathing due to various factors like physical exertion, emotional distress, or environmental conditions. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. The analysis reveals it's commonly found in news and media, formal business contexts and wiki sources, serving to evoke empathy or understanding by highlighting a subject's compromised condition. While "barely breathe" is quite common, avoid overuse in melodramatic scenarios to maintain credibility. Related phrases like "hardly breathe" or "struggle to breathe" can offer nuance depending on the intended emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hardly breathe

Emphasizes the minimal amount of breathing occurring, very close in meaning.

scarcely breathe

Highlights the infrequency or difficulty of each breath.

struggle to breathe

Focuses on the effort required to inhale and exhale.

gasp for air

Describes a desperate attempt to get enough air.

short of breath

Indicates a lack of sufficient air intake.

unable to breathe easily

Highlights the impediment to normal breathing.

breathless

A more concise way to express the inability to breathe properly.

winded

Often used to describe being out of breath after physical exertion.

suffocating

Implies a severe restriction of air intake, often life-threatening.

close to suffocating

Expresses that the person is close to not being able to breathe at all.

FAQs

What does "barely breathe" mean?

The phrase "barely breathe" means to have significant difficulty breathing, often due to exertion, physical condition, or emotional distress.

What can I say instead of "barely breathe"?

You can use alternatives like "hardly breathe", "struggle to breathe", or "gasp for air" depending on the context.

How to use "barely breathe" in a sentence?

You can use "barely breathe" to describe a state of physical distress, e.g., "After running the marathon, I could "barely breathe"." Or to depict emotional intensity, e.g., "The news was so shocking, I could "barely breathe".

Is "barely breathe" formal or informal?

The phrase "barely breathe" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it's more common in descriptive or narrative writing than in highly technical or academic contexts.