exhale

When you exhale, you let the air out of your lungs. It is the opposite of inhaling. You do it every time you breathe, but we often notice it more in special moments, like blowing out candles, giving a long sigh, or breathing out slowly to relax. The word can also suggest letting go of stress or strong feelings. A worried person may be told to breathe out slowly and feel their body calm down.

To exhale means to breathe out, whether gently or with force. It is the natural act of sending air out of your lungs after you breathe in. For example, "She exhaled a cloud of smoke" shows air leaving her body in a visible way.

However, "exhale" is not used only for the physical act of breathing. It can also carry the idea of release. Someone may exhale in relief after hearing good news, or exhale slowly to ease tension. In this way, the word often suggests a small but clear moment of letting go.

The word comes from the Latin exhalare, with a root that points to breathing outward. In modern English, it appears in everyday speech, health advice, yoga, meditation, and writing that describes emotion in a gentle, human way. People talk about exhaling deeply, exhaling through the nose, or exhaling a sigh. Writers also use it to show a quiet shift in feeling, as if a person is setting down fear, strain, or worry. Whether you are talking about simple breathing or a moment of emotional release, the word keeps the same core idea: something moves outward, and a little space opens up inside.