pant

When you exert yourself, get overheated, or feel very excited, you might pant. It is that short, quick, often noisy breathing that comes when your body is working hard. A dog on a hot day is a classic example, and so is a runner who has just crossed the finish line. The word can also point to the sound of that breathing itself.

Most of the time, pant is used in this physical sense. Sometimes it is also used more figuratively. If someone is "panting after" something, they want it very badly or chase it eagerly. You might read about a character panting after fame, money, or love.

To pant primarily means to breathe with short, quick breaths, usually because of hard effort, heat, fear, or excitement. It suggests breathing that is faster and heavier than normal. Imagine a marathon runner crossing the finish line, or a dog cooling itself on a warm day. In both cases, the breathing is easy to notice and often easy to hear.

The verb pant describes this strained or eager breathing in a vivid way. You might say someone "panted with exhaustion," "panted up the stairs," or "panted with anticipation." The word can also be used as a noun for a short breath or puff, though forms like "panting" are more common when people talk about the sound or act itself.

Beyond its literal meaning, pant can also be used figuratively. To "pant after" something means to desire it strongly and chase it eagerly, sometimes with a hint of desperation. For example, "He panted after fame and fortune" suggests a restless, hungry kind of pursuit.

So whether you are describing heavy breathing after effort, the audible rush of quick breaths, or an eager desire for something, pant is a word that carries a sense of strain, energy, and urgency.