Breathless means breathing rapidly and with difficulty, usually after intense physical activity. After sprinting across the playground or racing up three flights of stairs, you might arrive breathless, panting and gasping for air. Your lungs need a moment to catch up with what your body just did.

The word also describes a feeling of excitement or wonder so intense it feels like you can't quite catch your breath. Watching an acrobat perform a dangerous trick might leave you breathless with amazement. A suspenseful story can keep readers in breathless anticipation, turning pages frantically to discover what happens next.

When something is described as breathless, it often means fast-paced and exciting. A breathless chase scene in a movie rushes from one narrow escape to another without pausing. The word captures that feeling when something is so thrilling, surprising, or moving that it almost takes your breath away, even if you're sitting perfectly still.