sigh
UK: saɪ | US: saɪ
n. a long, deep audible breath expressing sadness, relief, tiredness, or similar emotion
vi. to emit a sigh
No data yet.
The word "sigh" traces back to Old English sīcan, meaning "to sigh or groan," likely imitative in origin—reflecting the sound of exhaling wearily. It shares roots with Old Norse súkkva and Dutch zuchten, all echoing the natural sound of a heavy breath. Over time, its spelling simplified while retaining the core expressive quality of audible resignation or emotion.
She let out a deep sigh after finishing the exhausting task.
He sighed with relief when the test results came back negative.
The wind sighed through the trees, creating a melancholic atmosphere.
"I guess we’ll try again tomorrow," he said with a sigh.
A collective sigh arose from the audience when the performance was canceled.