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What is "sigh"

Crossword clues for sigh

sigh
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
sigh
I.verb
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a smile/sigh/look of satisfaction
▪ He allowed himself a little smile of satisfaction.
breathe/heave a sigh of relief
▪ United fans breathed a huge sigh of relief as Drogba's shot was tipped over the bar.
despairing cry/look/sigh etc
▪ She gave me a last despairing look.
heaved a sigh of relief
▪ Rebecca heaved a sigh of relief.
sigh of contentment
▪ He gave a sigh of contentment, and fell asleep.
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADVERB
deeply
▪ She threw herself into his arms, sighing deeply when he half-heartedly returned her embrace.
▪ He sighed deeply, stepping up to the white line.
▪ Father O'Harte, easing his little white collar, for it was a hot day, sighed deeply.
▪ Kissinger would sigh deeply, then take it up once again.
▪ He sighed deeply then mounted the stairs and looked around him slowly.
▪ Oliver sighed deeply, stuffed his treasure back into his pockets and sat down on the grass to watch.
▪ In this he carefully laid Tess, and kissing her lips, sighed deeply and happily.
▪ Eventually he sighed deeply, pushed himself to his feet and with a wan smile departed.
heavily
▪ I sighed heavily and he took no notice.
▪ Theresa sighed heavily as she unbuttoned her coat.
▪ Lindsey sighed heavily, wishing she had never met Niall Grant, and knew that even that wasn't true.
▪ She sighed heavily, and then realised that her sigh was audible.
▪ At last she sighed heavily, closed her magazine and sat back in her chair with her hands clasped in her lap.
▪ Jane flopped forward on her chair and sighed heavily.
▪ Ranulf sighed heavily, a long way from this dour monastery and his secretive master.
▪ He sighed heavily, and forced himself to relax.
wearily
▪ Donna ran a hand through her hair and sighed wearily.
▪ She turned away from the window, sighing wearily as she glanced round the room.
▪ Donna sighed wearily and prepared to continue the search.
■ NOUN
relief
▪ Her exalted moment of remembrance expired, she sighed in her relief and in her certainty of purpose.
▪ We sighed with relief, congratulating our-selves on our vigilance.
▪ Kali sat down on a flat stone, sighing with relief.
▪ The liberal politicians sigh with relief and continue their efforts to enlarge the welfare state.
▪ As the plane taxied along the runway she sighed with relief.
▪ Lindsey followed, sighing her own relief as the noise faded behind them.
■ VERB
hear
▪ She guessed Stephen was looking at her, she had heard him sigh when her dress had come off.
▪ We heard the bed springs sigh as Ralph lay down.
▪ She heard his sigh of impatience, and squeezed past the speaker, groping her way through the darkness to his side.
▪ Dougal heard him sigh softly with relief.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
▪ "I know," she sighed.
▪ "That's life, I suppose,'' she sighed.
▪ Sighing wearily, she began her routine of getting ready for bed.
▪ Frank sighed deeply and stared out of the window.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ A tiny echo sighed back at him.
▪ Eventually he sighed again, picked up his bag and went on up the steps into his house.
▪ He sighed with a mixture of delight and despair.
▪ Luce read it through twice, and sighed.
▪ She sighed crossly, was about to dispose of the paper when a wicked thought possessed her.
▪ She sighed lightly and pushed the door closed before she turned to dress.
▪ She turned away from the window, sighing wearily as she glanced round the room.
▪ The trees swayed and sighed gently in the soft wind.
II.noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADJECTIVE
audible
▪ There was an audible sigh of relief.
▪ There was an almost audible sigh of relief as they all stood around the foot of the column.
▪ An audible sigh of relief rose from the ranks of mainstream macroeconomists.
▪ There was an almost audible sigh of relief around the world that some one had been caught tampering with the dictionary.
▪ He only just made it back to the crease. Audible sighs of relief.
big
▪ Rex breathed a very big sigh of relief.
▪ The readers' response: a big sigh and a rustle as they turn the page.
▪ A yawn, then a big sigh.
▪ Pulling up outside the hotel, she gave a big, thankful sigh.
▪ Sara gave a big involuntary sigh and returned to her hairpins and rollers.
collective
▪ The watching deities gave a collective sigh.
▪ You could hear a collective sigh of relief.
▪ A collective sigh of relief seemed to whistle from every pore of the house as I walked away.
▪ There was a collective sigh of relief.
deep
▪ She looked out of the now sparkling window and heaved a deep sigh.
▪ The chief let out a deep sigh.
▪ He heard the library clock faintly chiming the hour over towards the Butts Estate and sighed a deep and heartfelt sigh.
▪ She ran her fingers through the dark mass of her hair and let out a deep sigh.
▪ Everyone in the convoy breathed a deep sigh of relief.
▪ With a deep sigh, I left the room and locked it behind me.
great
▪ But perhaps ... She opened the surgery door and Helen greeted her with a great sigh of relief.
▪ The brakes caught with a great sigh.
▪ There came a sipping sound, a slight smacking of lips, and another great dismal sigh.
▪ A great sigh, so loud it could be heard in the back of the balcony.
▪ He heaved a great sigh of hopelessness.
▪ We have all felt the howling wind of that great communal sigh which emanates from the queue behind you.
▪ Finally and with a great sigh, Robyn forced herself into action.
huge
▪ Jubilation! Huge sighs of relief.
▪ Mildred opened her eyes and breathed a huge sigh of relief.
▪ Everyone breathed a huge sigh of relief.
▪ Women around the world were heard to heave a huge sigh of relief.
▪ Suddenly he let out a huge sigh, as though the air was being forced out of him.
little
▪ She stood looking in the window, then gave a little sigh.
▪ Her hand moved below, smoothed, stroked where the love-ache was, until Bethany gave a little sigh.
▪ Releasing a shaky little sigh, she put the iron back on its stand with a hand that shook.
▪ Quinn let out a little sigh and closed the book.
▪ Unconsciously she gave a little sigh.
▪ She wasn't going to find out tonight, Caroline thought with a little sigh.
▪ She slept deeply; sometimes she gave a comfortable little sigh.
▪ With a little sigh, Caroline settled into a chair opposite and put her head back.
long
▪ He breathed out, a long sigh of a breath.
▪ I envisioned her smile, and the long sigh as we gave ourselves over to an honest conversation.
▪ Folding her against him, he gave a long sigh, then moved her back so that he could look into her face.
▪ He gave a long sigh, finally, and said he hated everything around here.
▪ Mr Donovan gave a long sigh of relief.
▪ She let out a long, appreciative sigh.
▪ When he kissed her there was a long, shared sigh.
small
▪ The boy's knees buckled and the air left his lungs in a small sigh.
▪ She tried to imagine herself doing it and then heaved a small sigh.
▪ If only he would talk to her ... Jessamy gave a small sigh.
▪ She looked at the pretty fountain again and gave a small sigh.
▪ Eleanor went completely white, and Jessamy gave a small sigh of relief.
▪ She sighed a small sigh, feeling a little better.
▪ Just another unanswered question, she acknowledged with a small sigh, as she re-wrapped it.
▪ With a small guttural sigh she relaxed and allowed him to part her thighs.
weary
▪ With a weary sigh she rubbed a hand over her eyes.
▪ Robyn breathed a weary sigh of relief, and threw the carrier of wet clothes on to the floor.
▪ Father Poole gave a weary sigh.
▪ Holman let a weary sigh escape from his lips.
■ VERB
breathe
▪ He breathed a sigh or relief when Mrs Long announced he had polled 31.
▪ A lot of abortion rights supporters also breathed a premature sigh of relief.
▪ The Government could breathe a sigh of relief at the disappearance of some of its fiercest critics.
▪ As you awaken from this nightmare, you breathe a sigh of relief.
▪ Everyone breathed a huge sigh of relief.
▪ He breathed a sigh of relief as he bumped over the crest.
▪ If, as trials suggest, the system is a success, the foot-weary pedestrian will breathe a sigh of relief.
give
▪ It was quite half an hour before he gave a sigh and settled down again to reading his magazine.
▪ Her hand moved below, smoothed, stroked where the love-ache was, until Bethany gave a little sigh.
▪ Folding her against him, he gave a long sigh, then moved her back so that he could look into her face.
▪ He gave a sigh of relief and started walking again.
▪ When she woke in the morning, it was to clear blue skies, and she gave a sigh of pleasure.
▪ The man gave a sigh of resignation.
▪ Kelly waved as she pulled away in her car, and gave a little sigh of relief.
▪ Sara gave a big involuntary sigh and returned to her hairpins and rollers.
heave
▪ She looked out of the now sparkling window and heaved a deep sigh.
▪ I heave a sigh of resignation, knowing how notoriously difficult it is to put unity into words.
▪ He and Christopher got on well, and Jane heaved an inward sigh of relief.
▪ Those whose companies' dealings with Codelco declined during that time frame say they are heaving sighs of relief.
▪ The sergeant sat down, placed his feet into the ice-cold potassium permanganate solution and heaved a euphoric sigh of relief.
▪ The water companies are heaving a sigh of relief.
▪ She tried to imagine herself doing it and then heaved a small sigh.
let
▪ She let out a sigh of impatience.
▪ The chief let out a deep sigh.
▪ Once Ari had gone, Leila slumped, letting out a sigh.
▪ She ran her fingers through the dark mass of her hair and let out a deep sigh.
▪ I close the door and let out a sigh of relief.
▪ Quinn let out a little sigh and closed the book.
say
▪ Those whose companies' dealings with Codelco declined during that time frame say they are heaving sighs of relief.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
breathe a sigh of relief
▪ I breathed a sigh of relief that the boy had been found safe.
▪ As you awaken from this nightmare, you breathe a sigh of relief.
▪ If the law lords tell Lord Young to publish, he will breathe a sigh of relief and obey.
▪ In the end Krushchev backed down and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
▪ Marie breathed a sigh of relief.
▪ She breathed a sigh of relief, and ran through to the living-room where she could hear Stephen's voice.
▪ The deadline came, the flood gates opened and we breathed a sigh of relief.
▪ The Government could breathe a sigh of relief at the disappearance of some of its fiercest critics.
▪ Yet the medical profession, seeing no upturn in the incidence of cancer, breathed a sigh of relief.
heave a sigh
▪ As for Uncle Walter ... Alec heaved a sigh.
▪ However, as far as the retailers' 1992/93 profits are concerned, they have heaved a sigh of relief.
▪ I heave a sigh of resignation, knowing how notoriously difficult it is to put unity into words.
▪ Kathleen found herself heaving a sigh of relief.
▪ The water companies are heaving a sigh of relief.
▪ Those whose companies' dealings with Codelco declined during that time frame say they are heaving sighs of relief.
▪ When Tom Hanks passed on the news that evening on his way home, Seb heaved a sigh of relief.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
▪ "Oh no!" he said with a sigh, "Not again!"
▪ Irene closed the door behind her and breathed a big sigh of relief.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ It was amazing what a sigh could do.
▪ Quinn let out a little sigh and closed the book.
▪ She looked out of the now sparkling window and heaved a deep sigh.
▪ Tabitha flung herself at the hard bunk with an angry sigh.
▪ The chief let out a deep sigh.
▪ The water companies are heaving a sigh of relief.
▪ Those whose companies' dealings with Codelco declined during that time frame say they are heaving sighs of relief.
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Sigh

Sigh \Sigh\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sighed; p. pr. & vb. n. Sighing.] [OE. sighen, si?en; cf. also OE. siken, AS. s[=i]can, and OE. sighten, si?ten, sichten, AS. siccettan; all, perhaps, of imitative origin.]

  1. 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, or the like.

  2. Hence, to lament; to grieve.

    He sighed deeply in his spirit.
    --Mark viii. 12.

  3. To make a sound like sighing.

    And the coming wind did roar more loud, And the sails did sigh like sedge.
    --Coleridge.

    The winter winds are wearily sighing.
    --Tennyson.

    Note: An extraordinary pronunciation of this word as s[=i]th is still heard in England and among the illiterate in the United States.

Sigh

Sigh \Sigh\, n. [OE. sigh; cf. OE. sik. See Sigh, v. i.]

  1. A deep and prolonged audible inspiration or respiration of air, as when fatigued or grieved; the act of sighing.

    I could drive the boat with my sighs.
    --Shak.

  2. Figuratively, a manifestation of grief; a lan?ent.

    With their sighs the air Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite.
    --Milton.

Sigh

Sigh \Sigh\, v. t.

  1. To exhale (the breath) in sighs.

    Never man sighed truer breath.
    --Shak.

  2. To utter sighs over; to lament or mourn over.

    Ages to come, and men unborn, Shall bless her name, and sigh her fate.
    --Pior.

  3. To express by sighs; to utter in or with sighs.

    They . . . sighed forth proverbs.
    --Shak.

    The gentle swain . . . sighs back her grief.
    --Hoole.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
sigh

mid-13c., probably a Middle English back-formation from sighte, past tense of Old English sican "to sigh," perhaps echoic of the sound of sighing. Related: Sighed; sighing.

sigh

early 14c., from sigh (v.).

Wiktionary
sigh

interj. An expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, frustration, or the like, often used in casual written contexts. n. 1 A deep and prolonged audible inspiration or respiration of air, as when fatigued, frustrated, grieved, or relieved; the act of sighing. 2 Figuratively, a manifestation of grief; a lament. 3 (context Cockney rhyming slang English) A person who is bored. vb. (context intransitive English) 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.

Related phrases:
WordNet
sigh

  1. n. an utterance made by exhaling audibly [syn: suspiration]

  2. a sound like a person sighing; "she heard the sigh of the wind in the trees"

sigh

  1. v. heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily; "She sighed sadly" [syn: suspire]

  2. utter with a sigh

Wikipedia
Sigh (band)

is a Japanese extreme metal band from Tokyo, formed in 1989. They are credited as being one of the first Japanese black metal bands, producing music in the early 1990s when the majority of black metal came from Scandinavia. They gradually shifted from a traditional extreme metal sound to a more experimental, avant-garde style employing symphonic elements.

Sigh (disambiguation)

A sigh is an audible exhalation, usually signifying some emotional experience. It may also refer to:

  • Pianto, a musical representation of a sigh
  • Sigh (band), a Japanese metal band
  • Un Sospiro (English: "A Sigh"), a piano piece by Franz Liszt
  • Sigh (film), a 2000 Chinese film directed by Feng Xiaogang
Sigh (film)

Sigh is a 2000 Chinese drama film directed by Feng Xiaogang, written by Wang Shuo, starring Zhang Guoli, Liu Bei, Xu Fan and Fu Biao. Like most of Feng's films, the film is set mostly in Beijing.

Related phrases:

Usage examples of "sigh".

He sighed and smiled absently at the image of the saint in the corner.

And if I asked Biliktu, after she had rested for a while, to come and join me and her sister, she might sigh, but she would usually accede, and she would give good account of herself.

There was a visible and audible sigh of relief from the assembled fellows of the American Tonsil, Adenoid and Vas Deferens Society.

Months he had wandered about the gates of the Bonnet, wondering, sighing, knocking at them, and getting neither admittance nor answer.

I took the opportunity of telling her that if she willed I would be hers, as I adored her, but that I could not sigh for long.

Petrarch sighs an indignant complaint, that the ancient capital of the world should adorn from her own bowels the slothful luxury of Naples.

Sure that the sigh of Ammon came from air within the adytum beneath, Ravion had gone to the temple and burned a special preparation.

She shrieked to the ravens that croaked from afar, And she sighed to the gusts of the wild sweeping wind.

Then the old woman rendring out like sighes, began to speake in this sort : My daughter take a good heart unto you, and bee not afeared at feigned and strange visions and dreams, for as the visions of the day are accounted false and untrue, so the visions of the night doe often change contrary.

And then she would talk of subjects suggested by the pious Agaric, interrupting the conversation with sighs and kisses.

Selecting a long-stemmed goblet of greenish wine and a stylish little Perkup nasal inhaler, Alacrity sighed.

Settling beside him, Alec looked out at the wild beauty of the night and let out a happy sigh.

Ready to spring the final ruse, Alec cast a yearning look toward the keep and sighed deeply.

Sighing with relief, she sat on a bench by the almonry and watched Jenny romp with a kitten.

He groaneth oft, and sighs amain, Poor soul is he In verity, And for his freedom sighs in vain.