To breathe is to pull air into your lungs and push it back out again. Right now, as you read this, you're breathing: your chest rises as air flows in through your nose or mouth, and falls as you exhale. You breathe without thinking about it, thousands of times each day, but you can also control your breathing when you want to.

Your body needs oxygen from the air to survive, which is why holding your breath for too long becomes uncomfortable. When you run hard, you breathe faster and deeper because your muscles need more oxygen. When you're calm and relaxed, your breathing slows down naturally.

People use breathing techniques for different purposes. Athletes learn to control their breathing during competition. Singers practice breathing deeply to hold long notes. Someone who's nervous might take slow, deep breaths to calm down.

The word also means to pause and rest, like when a tired runner finally stops to catch her breath. If you've been working intensely on homework, you might need to step outside and breathe for a minute. When someone says they need breathing room, they mean they need space to think or work without feeling crowded or pressured.