pant

PANT/pænt/

Verbpants, panting, panted

Noun pluralpants

13 meanings of pant

Practice

1
verbtransitive or intransitive
To breathe fast and hard, usually after running or hard work.
Like a dog breathing fast with its tongue out after a run.
The dog began to pant after chasing the ball.
She was panting by the time she reached the top of the stairs.
Similargasp, puff, huff, wheeze, blow
Note
2
nouncountable
A single piece of clothing worn on the lower body, with a part for each leg.
This pant comes in three colors and two lengths.
She prefers a tailored pant for the office.
Similartrouser
Note
3
nouncountable
A quick breath or gasp, like the fast breathing a dog makes with its tongue out.
Like the fast little breaths you take after running up stairs.
She gave a sharp pant and dropped onto the bench.
The dog's quick pants showed how hot it was.
Similargasp, puff, wheeze, huff
Note
4
verbintransitive
To want something very strongly.
Fans panted for tickets to the sold-out show.
Far from home, I still pant to see my old friends again.
Similarlong, yearn, hunger, thirst, ache
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5
nounfigurativelycountable
A strong wish or longing for something.
Like the deep wish for home when you have been away too long.
A pant for adventure pulled her toward the open road.
You could see the pant for freedom in their eyes.
Similarlonging, yearning, craving, hunger, thirst
6
nounbefore a noun
Having to do with pants, or being a part of them.
She rolled up each pant leg before wading in.
The tailor shortened the pant cuffs by an inch.
Similartrouser
Note
7
verbintransitive
To rise and fall, as the chest does when breathing hard.
Like how your chest goes up and down fast when you are out of breath.
Their chests pant with effort as they near the summit.
His chest panted under the weight of his sobs.
Similarheave
8
verbintransitive
Of the heart, to beat very fast and hard.
Like how your heart races and pounds when you are scared.
Her heart panted as she opened the letter.
Their hearts pant whenever danger is near.
Similarpound, race, palpitate, throb, thump
9
verbintransitive
To sigh softly, or to seem weak and full of longing.
Like sighing softly because you miss someone very much.
The poet's heart panted with hopeless love.
Weary travelers pant and languish in the heat.
Similarpine, languish, sigh, flutter
Note
10
nouncountable
A public fountain where people can drink water, used in some areas.
Like a public water tap on the street where anyone can get a drink.
Children gathered at the pant to fill their cups.
Every village square once had a stone pant.
Similarfountain
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11
verbintransitive
Of a ship's metal sides, to swell out and pull in over and over.
Like a thin metal can that pops in and out when you press on it.
The old hull began to pant as the waves grew.
In heavy seas, iron plates pant against their frames.
Similarflex, pulsate

Less common meanings

12
nounobsolete
A sudden, strong pounding of the heart.
Note
13
verbobsoletetransitive
To want something very much.
Then shall our hearts pant thee.
1633, George Herbert, LoveHere, pant means long for deeply, as if out of breath with desire.
Note

Practice

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

Origins

Meanings 1, 3–5, 7–9, 11–13

From Middle English panten, meaning to breathe hard. Its earlier origin is uncertain.

Meanings 2, 6

From the word "pants."