Breathlessly means in a way that shows excitement, urgency, or physical exertion that makes normal breathing difficult. When you run up three flights of stairs, you might arrive breathlessly at the top, gasping for air. When you're bursting with exciting news, you might tell your friend breathlessly about what just happened, the words tumbling out so fast you barely pause to inhale.

The word captures that feeling of being so caught up in something that you can't quite catch your breath. A runner crosses the finish line breathlessly. A group of friends might wait breathlessly for the teacher to announce the winner of the science fair, hardly daring to breathe in anticipation. When someone reports news breathlessly, they're speaking with such excitement or urgency that they seem unable to slow down.

Breathlessly often suggests intensity, whether from physical effort, excitement, fear, or anticipation. It's the opposite of speaking calmly or moving at a relaxed pace. When you're breathless, your body or emotions have temporarily taken over your normal rhythm of breathing.