exhale audibly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exhale audibly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing the action of breathing out in a way that can be heard, often to convey emotion or physical exertion. Example: "After holding her breath for a long time, she finally exhaled audibly, releasing the tension she had been holding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Indeed, for every anonymous Internet commenter who complains about runaway toddlers and contraband liquids in diaper bags, there is a retort from the leisure set about harried business travelers who exhale audibly, tap their feet and otherwise express their impatience.

The New York Times

An agitated Dutch man leapt up and shouted: "Please take his suitcase as well!" One of the security guards came back onto the plane to collect his Samsonite metal hand luggage and I heard several people exhale audibly with relief.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

He exhaled audibly, relaxing his hands.

The New Yorker

She exhaled audibly, but let him finish mansplaining.

The New Yorker

Asked who would make the decision, Mr. Holder gave a long pause and exhaled audibly.

The New York Times

The younger girls glanced at Juliana to see how they should respond; when she smiled, they exhaled audibly.

The New Yorker

Susan Levy, Ms. Levy's mother, exhaled audibly as Judge Fisher repeated the verdict, craning her head to get a glimpse of Mr. Guandique, whose face remained expressionless.

The New York Times

Mangold exhaled audibly as she gripped the bar, and one saw on the scoreboard close-up that she'd painted her nails red, white, and blue — a slightly disappointing showing, I felt, compared with the tiny barbells she'd painted for the Olympic trials, in March.

The New Yorker

I exhaled audibly in disbelief.

Huffington Post

On "Where the Streets Have No Name", his voice varies greatly in its timbre (as writer Mark Butler describes, "he sighs; he moans; he grunts; he exhales audibly; he allows his voice to crack") and its timing by his usage of rubato to slightly offset the sung notes from the beat.

Wikipedia

The bass and drums continue in regular eighth and sixteenth notes, respectively, while Bono's vocal performance, in contrast, varies greatly in its timbre, ("he sighs; he moans; he grunts; he exhales audibly; he allows his voice to crack") as well as timing by his usage of rubato to slightly offset the notes he sings from the beat.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "exhale audibly" when you want to emphasize the sound of someone's breath being released, often to indicate relief, exhaustion, or another strong emotion. For example, "After hearing the good news, she exhaled audibly."

Common error

Avoid using adverbs that are redundant with "audibly", such as "exhale loudly audibly". Choose the adverb that best captures the specific nuance you intend to convey.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exhale audibly" functions as a verb-adverb combination. The verb "exhale" denotes the act of breathing out, while the adverb "audibly" modifies the verb by specifying that the exhalation is perceptible by hearing. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "exhale audibly" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the act of breathing out in a way that is clearly heard. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is correct, though relatively infrequent, primarily appearing in news and media contexts. The phrase effectively conveys a descriptive element, often associated with emotional release or physical exertion. While simple, its impact lies in adding a layer of auditory detail to written narratives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

breathe out audibly

Replaces "exhale" with the synonymous "breathe out", maintaining the core meaning.

sigh audibly

Indicates a deeper, often emotional, audible breath.

exhale with a sigh

Replaces "audibly" with a more descriptive phrase, emphasizing the emotional aspect of the exhalation.

let out an audible breath

Offers a more verbose but equivalent way of describing the action.

expel breath audibly

Uses a more formal synonym for "exhale", adding a slightly clinical tone.

wheeze audibly

Suggests a more labored and noisy exhalation, often due to physical exertion or respiratory issues.

breathe heavily and audibly

Adds the idea of heaviness to the breathing.

gasp audibly

Emphasizes a sharp, audible intake of breath followed by an exhalation, usually indicating surprise or shock.

pant audibly

Implies short, quick audible breaths, typical after physical exertion.

respire audibly

Replaces "exhale" with the more technical term "respire", giving a scientific feel to the phrase.

FAQs

What does "exhale audibly" mean?

To "exhale audibly" means to breathe out in a way that can be clearly heard. It often suggests a release of tension, relief, or an expression of emotion.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "exhale audibly"?

It's appropriate to use "exhale audibly" when you want to emphasize the sound of someone's breathing out, especially when it conveys a specific emotional or physical state, such as relief or exhaustion.

What are some alternatives to "exhale audibly"?

You can use alternatives like "breathe out audibly", "sigh audibly", or "let out an audible breath" to vary your language while conveying a similar meaning.

How does "exhale audibly" differ from simply saying "exhale"?

"Exhale" simply means to breathe out. Adding "audibly" specifies that the breath is heard, drawing attention to the sound and often implying an emotional or physical state behind the action.