breathtaking

adjective breath·tak·ing \ ˈbreth-ˌtā-kiŋ \

Updated on: 3 Dec 2017

Definition of breathtaking

1 : causing one to breathe rapidly or with difficulty : making one out of breath

a breathtaking pain in her side

2 a : exciting, thrilling

a breathtaking race

b : very great : astonishing

his breathtaking ignorance

—

breathtakingly

play \-kiŋ-lē\ adverb

See breathtaking defined for English-language learners

See breathtaking defined for kids

Examples of breathtaking in a Sentence

The train raced past with breathtaking speed.
They gave a breathtaking performance.
The view of the mountains was breathtaking.
a scene of breathtaking beauty
The scope of the error is breathtaking.

Recent Examples of breathtaking from the Web

Truly an elevated experience, this resort’s Eagle’s Eye Suites offer ski-in-and-out accommodations atop the breathtaking 7,700-foot mountain.

— destination canada, Bon Appetit, "The Ultimate Guide to British Columbia’s Après-Ski Scene," 31 Oct. 2017
The exhibition reminds us that while war is never less than hell, some of its byproducts can be breathtaking and, in their soul-nurturing beauty, the very antithesis of war.

— roberta smith, New York Times, "Wartime Quilts Honor Battles and Leaders, but Mostly Art," 25 Oct. 2017
In 2010, Purdue executed a breathtaking pivot: Embracing the arguments critics had been making for years about OxyContin’s susceptibility to abuse, the company released a new formulation of the medication that was harder to snort or inject.

— christopher glazek, Esquire, "The Secretive Family Making Billions From the Opioid Crisis," 16 Oct. 2017
Built in Italy, the 212-foot Texas Star has been delighting fairgoers with its breathtaking views of Dallas-Fort Worth for over three decades.

— courtney ortega, star-telegram, "First time at the State Fair of Texas? Here’s what you need know," 26 Sep. 2017
Recent upgrades to the resort include a spa that offers treatments incorporating Anangu traditions and a dunetop bar with breathtaking views of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

— priscilla eakeley, Town & Country, "15 Incredible Places to Visit Before They Disappear," 20 Sep. 2017
Rodolfo and Mimi's Act One pas de deux of falling in love is a breathtaking encounter.

— jim higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee Ballet finds love and friendship in 'La Bohème'," 3 Nov. 2017
Here, there are few special effects, conveying with simple, blunt power the breathtaking intensity of Adam's and Solo's imaginations.

— mike scott, NOLA.com, "'Suburbicon' vs. 'Florida Project': All you need to know about this week's new movies in 3 minutes," 27 Oct. 2017
While Cook has proved an able steward of the brand (and is by all accounts a better human being than Jobs), the company is no longer driven by the relentless perfectionism that made the early iPhones so breathtaking.

— jeff john roberts, Fortune, "Are We Ready for a $1,000 iPhone?," 1 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'breathtaking.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.