Meaning & use
breathtaking
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparableapproving
So beautiful, impressive or astonishing that it leaves you momentarily amazed.
Grammar: Can come before a noun or after a linking verb: a breathtaking view, the view was breathtaking.
Patterns
- a breathtaking view
- breathtaking in scale
The view from the summit was breathtaking.
She gave a breathtaking performance on the violin.
The speed of the recovery was breathtaking.
adjectivebefore a noundisapproving
Shockingly bold or extreme, in a way that astonishes people, sometimes negatively.
Grammar: Used with words like arrogance or audacity.
Patterns
- breathtaking arrogance
- breathtaking audacity
His breathtaking arrogance shocked the staff.
The thief showed breathtaking nerve in robbing the bank in daylight.
The scheme was breathtaking in its dishonesty.
Word forms
| comparative | more breathtaking |
|---|---|
| superlative | most breathtaking |
Common combinations
- breathtaking view
- The hotel offers breathtaking views of the bay.
- breathtaking beauty
- The valley is a place of breathtaking beauty.
- breathtaking speed
- The fire spread with breathtaking speed.
- breathtaking performance
- The gymnast delivered a breathtaking performance.
- simply breathtaking
- The sunset was simply breathtaking.
Synonyms and how they differ
- stunning
- Stunning is the everyday word for something strikingly beautiful and is less strong than breathtaking.
- spectacular
- Spectacular stresses a grand display, while breathtaking stresses the awe it causes.
- awe-inspiring
- Awe-inspiring adds a sense of reverence or fear and is stronger than breathtaking.
- astonishing
- Astonishing stresses surprise rather than beauty.
Opposites
Word family
- breathtakingly adverb
- in an amazing way
- breath noun
- air taken into the lungs
- breathless adjective
- out of breath or very excited
- take someone's breath away phrase
- to amaze someone
Commonly confused: breathtaking or breathless?
breathtaking vs breathless
Breathless describes being out of breath, while breathtaking describes the thing that amazes you.
Practice
The mountain scenery was so ____ that the tourists stopped speaking.
Choose one answer.
Breathtaking describes scenery that amazes. Breathless describes a person who is out of breath.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “breathtaking”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.