gasping
Sucking for air
Gasping is breathing in short, labored bursts, usually from exertion, shock, or lack of air: She came up gasping for breath.
It suggests desperate or involuntary inhalation.
Figuratively, to be gasping for something is to crave it urgently: I'm gasping for a cup of tea.
This figurative use is more common in British English.
Rapid labored breathing
- wheezingHarsh, whistling respiration
- gulpingSwallowing hastily, noisily
- breathlessLacking air, gasping
- short of breathUnable to breathe easily
winded · hyperventilating · heaving · labored breathing · huffing · out of breath · catching breath · sucking air
State of utter depletion
- spentExhausted or disbursed
- windedShort of breath
- overexertionHarmful excess of effort
- collapseSudden structural failure
drained · fatigued · finish line · marathon · sprinting · climbing · heaving · doubled over
Blocked airway condition
- suffocatingDepriving of air
- stranglingCompressing throat to suffocate
- drowningDeath by water inhalation
- smotheringDepriving of air
airless · hypoxia · anoxia · stifling · constriction · asphyxiant · can't breathe · blue lips
Having reactive airways
- inhalerPortable respiratory medication device
- wheezeWhistling labored breath
- bronchitisInflamed airway disease
- emphysemaDamaged lung air sacs
COPD · pulmonary · dyspnea · respiratory distress · oxygen mask · nebulizer · spirometry · lung disease
Intense prolonged craving
- longingIntense, persistent desire
- cravingPowerful urge to have
- achingExperiencing dull pain
- piningAching with prolonged desire
desperate · hungry for · thirsting · lusting · coveting · urgent need · burning desire · impatient
Shocked into speechlessness
- speechlessUnable to talk
- jaw-droppingExtremely surprising or impressive
- flabbergastedOverwhelmed with amazement
- thunderstruckExtremely shocked or amazed
dumbfounded · disbelief · incredulous · taken aback · reeling · staggered · blindsided · startled
Extremely frightened
- aghastStruck with horror
- petrifiedSolidified or fear-paralyzed
- horrifiedIntensely shocked, disgusted
- shriekingEmitting shrill, loud cries
screaming · nightmare · jump scare · blood-curdling · chilling · frozen · panic-stricken · white-faced
Anxious uncertainty about outcomes
- edge of seatState of rapt tension
- bated breathRestrained breathing from suspense
- cliffhangerSuspenseful unresolved ending
- nail-bitingExtremely tense or anxious
heart-pounding · waiting · tension · buildup · dramatic pause · reveal · climax · anxious
panting
Rapid labored breathing
- wheezingHarsh, whistling respiration
- gulpingSwallowing hastily, noisily
- breathlessLacking air, gasping
short of breath · winded · hyperventilating · heaving · labored breathing · huffing · out of breath · catching breath · sucking air · shallow breathing
exhaustion
State of utter depletion
- spentExhausted or disbursed
- windedShort of breath
- overexertionHarmful excess of effort
collapse · drained · fatigued · finish line · marathon · sprinting · climbing · heaving · doubled over · catching breath
choking
Blocked airway condition
- suffocatingDepriving of air
- stranglingCompressing throat to suffocate
- drowningDeath by water inhalation
smothering · airless · hypoxia · anoxia · stifling · constriction · asphyxiant · can't breathe · blue lips · last breath
asthmatic
Having reactive airways
- inhalerPortable respiratory medication device
- wheezeWhistling labored breath
- bronchitisInflamed airway disease
emphysema · COPD · pulmonary · dyspnea · respiratory distress · oxygen mask · nebulizer · spirometry · lung disease · breathing treatment
yearning
Intense prolonged craving
pining · desperate · hungry for · thirsting · lusting · coveting · urgent need · burning desire · impatient · almost there
stunned
Shocked into speechlessness
- speechlessUnable to talk
- jaw-droppingExtremely surprising or impressive
- flabbergastedOverwhelmed with amazement
thunderstruck · dumbfounded · disbelief · incredulous · taken aback · reeling · staggered · blindsided · startled · wide-eyed
terrified
Extremely frightened
shrieking · screaming · nightmare · jump scare · blood-curdling · chilling · frozen · panic-stricken · white-faced · trembling
suspense
Anxious uncertainty about outcomes
- edge of seatState of rapt tension
- bated breathRestrained breathing from suspense
- cliffhangerSuspenseful unresolved ending
nail-biting · heart-pounding · waiting · tension · buildup · dramatic pause · reveal · climax · anxious · eager
- audience behaviorcheering, clapping, booing, standing ovation, applause
- body responsesfight, flight, shivering, freeze, goosebumps
- breathlessnessshort of breath, breathless, winded, panting, huffing
- emotional expressiontone, laughing, mood, yelling, crying
- melodramatichistrionic, theatrical, overwrought, exaggerated, dramatic
- stress reactionspanic, fear, fright, terror, horror
gaspingsteady breathing
Constant respiratory rhythm
rhythmic breathing · controlled breathing · deep breathing · slow breathing · composed