Sigh Definition & Meaning

American

British

Usage

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms sigh American [sahy] / saɪ /

verb (used without object)

1. to let out one's breath audibly, as from sorrow, weariness, or relief.

2. to yearn or long; pine.

3. to make a sound suggesting a sigh.

   sighing wind.

verb (used with object)

1. to express or utter with a sigh.

2. to lament with sighing.

noun

1. the act or sound of sighing.

sigh British / saɪ /

verb

1. (intr) to draw in and exhale audibly a deep breath as an expression of weariness, despair, relief, etc

2. (intr) to make a sound resembling this

   trees sighing in the wind

3. to yearn, long, or pine

4. (tr) to utter or express with sighing

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

1. the act or sound of sighing

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What does sigh mean? Sigh, an audible exhalation, conveys a broad range of emotions from sadness and disappointment to sarcasm and relief. People frequently write it out online to express such sentiments.

Other Word Forms

• outsigh verb (used with object)
• sigher noun
• unsighing adjective

Etymology

Origin of sigh

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English verb sighen, back formation from sihte “sighed,” past tense of Middle English siken, sichen “to sigh, moan,” Old English sīcan “to sigh, groan, long for”; noun derivative of the verb

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The sights of excavators and hazmat suits this week prompted a sigh of relief from Palisadians worried about the health risks of the potentially toxic debris.

From Los Angeles Times

“Once the judge said, ‘I’m compelled to agree with the defendant’s attorney,’ there was a sigh of relief,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s a very hard — It’s a hard question to answer,” Frometa said with a sigh.

From Los Angeles Times

With another sigh, my sister slowly turns in her seat.

From Literature

She sighed heavily and returned to the map.

From Literature

Related Words

• cry
• exhale
• gasp
• groan
• howl
• moan
• murmur
• sob
• whisper
• whistle

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.