air

SayAIR/ɛɹ//ɛə/

Pluralairs (some meanings)

Verbairs, airing, aired

19 meanings of air

Practice

1
gas we breathenoununcountable
The mix of gases around the earth that we breathe, or a similar mix around another planet.
Like an invisible blanket of gases wrapped around the whole planet.
Whales come up to the surface to breathe air.
There isn't enough air at the top of very tall mountains.
UsageSay breathe air or the air, but not an air for this meaning.
Similaratmosphere
2
broadcastverbintransitive
To show a program on TV or play it on radio, or to be shown or played there.
Like a bus that arrives on schedule: the show comes on at its set time.
The finale airs tonight at nine.
Reruns air every afternoon on that channel.
UsageThe show airs at nine: people can watch it then.
Similarbroadcast, run, show
3
plane travelnoununcountable
Planes as a way to travel or send things, as in going by air.
We sent the birthday present to Grandma by air so it would arrive on time.
Air travel is faster than the train, but it costs more.
UsageSay send it by air, with no the.
4
skynoununcountable
The open space above the ground, where birds and planes fly.
Like the empty space above your head that reaches all the way up to the sky.
The balloon drifted slowly up into the air.
Birds wheeled through the air above the cliffs.
UsageSay in the air: birds fly in the air.
Similarsky
5
nouncolloquialUScountable or uncountable
A system that cools the air inside a building or car.
Like a fridge for a whole room, blowing out cool air.
Turn on the air. It's boiling in here.
The air in our car went out in the middle of the heat wave.
UsageYou turn on the air when it is hot.
Similarair-conditioning, AC
6
broadcastingnouncountable or uncountable
The signal that carries radio and TV shows, or broadcasting in general.
Like an invisible road that carries radio shows from the station to your home.
The station has been on the air since 1950.
Dead silence on the air made listeners think their radios had failed.
UsageSay a show is on the air: being broadcast.
Similarairwaves
Note
7
nouncountable or uncountable
The air outside or in a certain place, thought of as fresh or good for your health.
Like opening a window in a stuffy room: everything suddenly feels fresher.
After being sick all week, she was glad to get out in the fresh air.
After the stuffy meeting, he went outside for some air.
UsageSay get some fresh air: go outside.
8
moodnouncountable or uncountable
The feeling or quality that a person, place or thing seems to have.
Like the feeling you get the moment you walk into a party.
There was an air of excitement in the classroom before the trip.
The empty house had a strange air about it.
UsageSay an air of + a feeling: an air of excitement.
Similaraura, atmosphere, feeling, sense
Note

Less common meanings

9
freshen clothesverbtransitive
To let fresh air reach something or come into a room, to make it fresh or dry.
Like hanging wet clothes outside so the breeze dries them.
Air the blankets outside so they smell fresh.
She aired the damp towels on the line.
UsageYou can say air out a blanket or air a blanket out.
Similarventilate
10
voice (opinion)verbtransitive
To share your thoughts or feelings openly so other people hear them.
Like turning your private thoughts inside out so everyone can see them.
He used the meeting to air his complaints about the new rules.
She finally aired her concerns to the whole team.
UsageYou air your complaints when you say them in public.
Similarvoice, express, vent, publicize
Note
11
nouncountable or uncountable
A soft, gentle wind that moves slowly.
Like the gentle puff you feel when someone fans you.
A cool air drifted in through the open window.
We enjoyed the soft air coming off the lake.
Similarbreeze, wind
12
acting superiornouncountable or uncountable
A way of behaving that shows you think you are better than other people.
Like acting as if you are the most important person in the room.
Since she got rich, she gives herself airs and won't talk to her old friends.
He put on airs and acted like he was royalty.
Similarpretension, affectation
Note
13
noununcountable
The short time spent off the ground during a jump, especially in sports like skateboarding.
Like the moment a jumping cat hangs above the ground before landing.
The skater caught big air off the ramp.
She got plenty of air on her last jump.
UsageSay skaters get air or catch big air.
Note
14
nothingnouncolloquialcountable or uncountable
Nothing at all: empty of anything real.
Like a balloon that looks full but holds nothing solid inside.
He swung at the ball but hit nothing but air.
She reached for the railing, but her hand closed on air.
UsageOften used in nothing but air or built on air.
15
tunenouncountable or uncountable
A tune or song, especially one performed by a single singer or player.
Like a simple tune you can hum on your own.
The singer performed an old Irish air in the small concert hall.
He hummed a cheerful air while he worked.
Similarmelody, tune, song, aria
Note
16
public attentionnoununcountable
The attention something gets when it is made known to the public.
UsageSay a story got some air: people heard about it.
Similarpublicity, exposure, attention, coverage
17
ancient elementnounhistoricalcountable or uncountable
One of the four basic things the ancient Greeks and Romans believed everything was made from.
The Greeks believed fire and air rose, while earth and water sank.
Ancient thinkers counted air among the elements, along with earth, water and fire.
Note
18
nounobsoletecountable or uncountable
Any one particular kind of gas, treated as its own substance.
Note
19
ignore (person)verbslangBritishtransitive
To deliberately ignore someone, especially by not replying to them.
Like turning your back and pretending someone isn't even there.
Don't air me just because you're annoyed.
She aired him all weekend and ignored his calls.
UsageSay someone is airing you when they ignore you.
Similarsnub, ignore
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of air apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It came from Latin āēr, which came from Ancient Greek aḗr. It reached English through Old French air.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

English air derives from Latin āēr, borrowed from Ancient Greek aḗr. en.wiktionary.org
The word reached English through Old French air. en.wiktionary.org