respire
verb
re·spire ri-ˈspī(-ə)r 
respired; respiring
1
: breathe
specifically : to inhale and exhale air successively
2
of a cell or tissue : to take up oxygen and produce carbon dioxide through oxidation
: breathe
pathogens in air respired through the nose and mouth
Examples of respire in a Sentence
Fish use their gills to respire. though unconscious, the patient is still respiring
Recent Examples on the Web
And as microbes and other organisms continue to respire, dissolved oxygen levels drop to zero. —
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 14 Jan. 2026 The bacteria respired away the carbon and released nitrogen as ammonium. —Joshua Weitz, The Conversation, 13 Jan. 2026 Living organisms can then consume the marine snow particles and respire their carbon back into the sea. —IEEE Spectrum, 4 Nov. 2024 Vegetables that respire at a higher rate keep better in the refrigerator crisper, where food retains more moisture than in the open space of the main refrigerator compartment, which can draw moisture out of produce. —Anne-Marie Bonneau, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2021 Consider leafy vegetables, which immediately start to respire faster once they are cut. —Nicola Temple, WSJ, 4 May 2018 The gases are then respired out of the lungs: literal fart breath. —Brian Resnick, Vox, 3 Apr. 2018 In the 18th century and earlier, most baking was dictated by the delicate whims of respiring yeast. —Ben Panko, Smithsonian, 20 June 2017 In the soil around their roots, billions of fungi and soil bacteria respire as well. —Jordan Fisher Smith, Discover Magazine, 20 Dec. 2010
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 14 Jan. 2026 The bacteria respired away the carbon and released nitrogen as ammonium. —Joshua Weitz, The Conversation, 13 Jan. 2026 Living organisms can then consume the marine snow particles and respire their carbon back into the sea. —IEEE Spectrum, 4 Nov. 2024 Vegetables that respire at a higher rate keep better in the refrigerator crisper, where food retains more moisture than in the open space of the main refrigerator compartment, which can draw moisture out of produce. —Anne-Marie Bonneau, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2021 Consider leafy vegetables, which immediately start to respire faster once they are cut. —Nicola Temple, WSJ, 4 May 2018 The gases are then respired out of the lungs: literal fart breath. —Brian Resnick, Vox, 3 Apr. 2018 In the 18th century and earlier, most baking was dictated by the delicate whims of respiring yeast. —Ben Panko, Smithsonian, 20 June 2017 In the soil around their roots, billions of fungi and soil bacteria respire as well. —Jordan Fisher Smith, Discover Magazine, 20 Dec. 2010
Cite this Entry
“Respire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/respire. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
respire
verb
re·spire ri-ˈspī(ə)r
respired; respiring
: to engage in respiration
especially : breathe sense 1
Medical Definition
respire
verb
re·spire ri-ˈspī(ə)r
respired; respiring
1
: breathe
specifically : to inhale and exhale air successively
2
of a cell or tissue : to take up oxygen and produce carbon dioxide through oxidation
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