Sigh
Pronunciation
- IPA: /saɪ/
- Rhymes: -aɪ
Origin
Middle English sihen, from Old English sīcan
Full definition of sigh
Noun
sigh
(plural sighs)- A deep and prolonged audible inspiration or respiration of air, as when fatigued, frustrated, grieved, or relieved; the act of sighing.
- Figuratively, a manifestation of grief; a lament.
- (Cockney rhyming slang) A person who is bored.
Verb
- (intransitive) To inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it; to make a deep single audible respiration, especially as the result or involuntary expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, frustration, or the like.
- 1963, Margery Allingham, The China Governess Chapter 5, A waiter brought his aperitif, which was a small scotch and soda, and as he sipped it gratefully he sighed.
‘Civilized,’ he said to Mr. Campion. ‘Humanizing.’ … ‘Cigars and summer days and women in big hats with swansdown face-powder, that's what it reminds me of.’ - When she saw it wasn't damaged, she sighed with relief.He sighed. It was going to be a long night.He sighed over the lost opportunity.
- (intransitive) To lament; to grieve.
- Bible, Mark viii. 12He sighed deeply in his spirit.
- (intransitive) To utter sighs over; to lament or mourn over.
- (intransitive) To experience an emotion associated with sighing.He silently sighed for his lost youth.
- (intransitive) To make a sound like sighing.
- ColeridgeAnd the coming wind did roar more loud,
And the sails did sigh like sedge. - TennysonThe winter winds are wearily sighing.
- (transitive) To exhale (the breath) in sighs.She sighed a sigh that was nearly a groan.sigh a note and sing a note
- ShakespeareNever man sighed truer breath.
- (transitive) To express by sighs; to utter in or with sighs."I guess I have no choice," she sighed.She sighed her frustrations.
- ShakespeareThey ... sighed forth proverbs.
- HooleThe gentle swain ... sighs back her grief.
- (transitive, archaic) To utter sighs over; to lament or mourn over.
- PriorAges to come, and men unborn,
Shall bless her name, and sigh her fate.
Interjection
- An expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, frustration, or the like, often used in casual written contexts.Sigh, I'm so bored at work today.