Definition

1. Verb:

   • To breathe quickly and with short breaths, usually after physical exertion: "pant" describes the act of taking rapid, shallow breaths through an open mouth, typically when out of breath.
   • To say something while breathing in this way: "pant" can also mean to utter words while gasping for air.

2. Noun:

   • A short, labored breath: A "pant" is a single instance of this quick, heavy breath.
   • (Technical/Archaic) A short puff of sound or steam: This meaning is less common and often used in specific contexts like machinery.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • The dog will pant after a long run.
  • She could only pant out a warning before the door slammed.
• Noun:
  • He spoke between ragged pants.
  • The engine gave a final pant and fell silent.

Advanced Usage

• "to pant for/after something": To desire something intensely or eagerly.
  • The audience was panting for the concert to begin.
• "panting" (Present Participle/Adjective): Used to describe the state of breathing heavily.
  • The panting runners collapsed at the finish line.

Variants and Related Words

• Panting (n): The act or sound of breathing heavily.
  • The only sound was his heavy panting.
• Pants (n): This is a separate, common word for a garment covering the legs. It is not a direct variant of the verb/noun "pant" but shares the same root. It is listed here only to avoid confusion.
  • He bought a new pair of pants.

Synonyms

• Verb: Gasp, puff, wheeze, heave.
• Noun: Gasp, puff.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(This word does not commonly form phrasal verbs. The advanced usage "pant for/after" functions as a verb + preposition combination.)

Related Idioms

• To be out of breath/panting: To be breathing heavily from exertion.
  • By the top of the hill, everyone was out of breath. (This idiom describes the state that causes one to pant.)

Noun

1. a short labored intake of breath with the mouth open
   • she gave a gasp and fainted
2. (usually in the plural) a garment extending from the waist to the knee or ankle, covering each leg separately
   • he had a sharp crease in his trousers
3. the noise made by a short puff of steam (as from an engine)

Verb

1. utter while panting, as if out of breath
2. breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
   • The runners reached the finish line, panting heavily