sigh

present singular third person sighs · participle present sighing · participle past sighed · past sighed · first person past singular sighed · archaic present second person singular sighest · past second person singular sighed · archaic past second person singular sighedst · present singular third person sighs · archaic present singular third person sigheth · past singular third person sighed · past plural sighed · past subjunctive sighed · participle present sighing · participle past sighed

1. intransitiveTo 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.

   He sighed over the lost opportunity.

   3 more examples

   When she saw it wasn't damaged, she sighed with relief.

   He sighed. It was going to be a long night.

   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.’

   1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 5, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC

   Synonyms: suspire, sithe

2. intransitiveTo lament; to grieve.

   He sighed deeply in his spirit.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Mark 8:12

   Synonyms: sithe, yearn, aggrieve, besorrow, condole, darken, engrieve, erme

3. transitiveTo utter sighs over; to lament or mourn over.

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

   1695, Matthew Prior, An ode presented to the king, on His Majesty's arrival in Holland, after the Queen's death

   2 more examples

   The lassie had grace given her to refuse, but with a woeful heart, and Heriotside rode off in black discontent, leaving poor Ailie to sigh her love. He came back the next day and the next, but aye he got the same answer.

   1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide

   In Lisbon, Queen Luisa, who had sighed so long for a French marriage, declared that an angel from heaven could not have brought better news.

   1966, H. V. Livermore, A New History of Portugal, page 191

   Synonyms: grieve, lament, sithe, afterthink, becry, begrieve, bemoan, bemourn

4. intransitiveTo make a sound like sighing.

   The wind sighed in the trees.

   2 more examples

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

   1797–1798 (date written), [Samuel Taylor Coleridge], “The Rime of the Ancyent Marinere”, in Lyrical Ballads, with a Few Other Poems, London: […] J[ohn] & A[rthur] Arch, […], published 1798, →OCLC

   The winter winds are wearily sighing.

   1832 December (indicated as 1833), Alfred Tennyson, “The Death of the Old Year”, in Poems, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC

   Synonyms: sithe

5. transitiveTo exhale (the breath) in sighs.

   sigh a note and sing a note

   3 more examples

   She sighed a sigh that was nearly a groan.

   She sighed her relief when she found her missing toddler.

   Never man sighed truer breath.

   c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene v]

   Synonyms: sithe

6. transitiveTo express by sighs; to utter in or with sighs.

   She sighed her frustrations.

   3 more examples

   "I guess I have no choice," she sighed.

   They […] sighed forth proverbs.

   c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]

   The gentle swain […] sighs back her grief.

   1763, Torquato Tasso, translated by John Hoole, Jerusalem Delivered

   Synonyms: sithe

plural sighs

1. A deep, prolonged audible inhale and exhale of breath; as when fatigued, frustrated, grieved, or relieved; the act of sighing.

   To Pollyanna the air was all the more stifling after that cool breath of the out of doors; but she did not complain. She only drew a long quivering sigh.

   1913, Eleanor H. Porter, chapter 7, in Pollyanna, L.C. Page, →OCLC

2. figurativelya manifestation of grief; a lament.
3. CockneyslangA person who is bored.

1. 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.