Sigh - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

Maybe your like

SKIP TO CONTENT sigh /saɪ/ /saɪ/ IPA guide

Other forms: sighed; sighs; sighing

The sound that you make when you exhale loudly to show frustration, boredom, or relief is called a sigh. No matter how much you sigh during your family's annual car trip to the Grand Canyon, your dad won't drive any faster.

Something that sounds like a human sigh is also called a sigh. The breeze might sigh in the still night air, or a screen door might sigh closed. The word sigh comes from the Old English word of the same meaning, sican, which was probably imitative, echoing the sound of a sigh.

Definitions of sigh

verb heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily “She sighed sadly” synonyms: suspire see moresee less type of: breathe, respire, suspire, take a breath draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs
verb utter with a sigh see moresee less type of: emit, let loose, let out, utter express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words)
noun an utterance made by exhaling audibly synonyms: suspiration see moresee less type of: utterance, vocalization the use of uttered sounds for auditory communication
noun a sound like a person sighing “she heard the sigh of the wind in the trees” see moresee less type of: sound the sudden occurrence of an audible event

Pronunciation US /saɪ/ UK /saɪ/ Cite this entry Style: MLA

MLA
APA
Chicago

Copy citation DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘sigh'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback Word Family

Vocabulary lists containing sigh

"The Road Not Taken"

This road or that road? See how Robert Frost's traveler describes the possible choices in the poem "The Road Not Taken." Here are all the word lists to support the reading of Grade 7 Unit 1's texts from SpringBoard's Common Core ELA series: The Road Not Taken, Choices, Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, Dust Tracks on a Road, Bad Boy, Why Couldn't I Have Been Named Ashley?, Phaethon, Daedalus and Icarus, Arachne, The Lion, the Fox, and the Stag, A Note from the Author, creation myths

"We Wear the Mask" by Paul Laurence Dunbar

In this poem, Paul Laurence Dunbar, a son of former slaves, suggests that some people wear masks in order to hide the pain that others do not want to hear about (which robs them of their true identities).

"The House on Mango Street" and "The Road Not Taken"

Learn these words from the short fiction by Sandra Cisneros and the poem by Robert Frost (Inside: Level C, Unit 1). Here are our links to lists of words from the full texts: The House on Mango Street, The Road Not Taken Here are our links to the selections of "Decision Point": American Names, Saying Yes; A Lion Hunt, From Kenya to America, The House on Mango Street; The Road Not Taken Here are our links to the units of Level C: Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4, Unit 5, Unit 6, Unit 7, Unit 8 Here are our links to the Inside books: Level A, Level B, Level C Here is our link to a list of academic vocabulary for Inside: Academic Vocabulary

MORE VOCABULARY LISTS 2 million people are mastering new words. Master a word

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.

Get started Learn with us

Learner subscriptions
Vocabulary lists
Dictionary
Test Prep
Join a Vocabulary Jam
Commonly confused words
Word of the day

Teach with us

For educators
For schools and districts
How it works
Success stories
Research
Professional development
Contact sales

Resources

Help articles/FAQ
Teaching resources
Learner resources
ESL/ELL resources
Grade level resources
IPA Pronunciation
Contact support

Leaderboards

Vocabulary Bowl
Today's leaders
Weekly leaders
Monthly leaders

About

Our Mission
Blog
Tell us what you think
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use

My Account Log in Sign up

Log Out
My Learning
My Proficiency Report
My Profile
Schools & Teachers
My Classes
Assignments & Activities
My Lists
- Find a List to Learn...
- Create a New List...
My Progress
- Words I'm Learning
- My Trouble Words
- Words I've Mastered
- My Achievements
User Administration
User Authentication
My Account