perspire

verb

per·​spire pər-ˈspī(-ə)r How to pronounce perspire (audio)
perspired; perspiring

intransitive verb

: to emit matter through the skin
specifically : to secrete and emit perspiration

Examples of perspire in a Sentence

I was nervous and could feel myself start to perspire. She ran two miles and wasn't even perspiring.
Recent Examples on the Web There are two ways to combat these smells: Deodorants are designed to cover up the odor caused by sweat, while antiperspirants are designed to block sweat glands to stop you from perspiring, thereby preventing odor. Katrina Cossey, Parents, 22 Feb. 2024 His face, even above water, is perspiring wildly, large droplets of sweat streaming down his forehead. Angelica Aboulhosn, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Nov. 2023 Henry says for people who tend not to perspire much or sweat through their clothes, such alternatives may be desirable. Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2023 And although that issue was rectified and the courthouse still stands, the building is rusting and the judges perspire working with broken air-conditioning in the tropical heat. Philippa Brant, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2013 The lively crowd, perspiring to the point of glistening, responded with a happy roar. Tim Greiving, Washington Post, 20 July 2023 Excitement gripped the perspiring spectators as a shrill whistle sounded a warning 5 minutes before the explosion. Merrie Monteagudo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2023 On Tuesday, two men at a museum in the Netherlands lifted a black sheet off a table to reveal a cantaloupe-size globe of overcooked meat perspiring under a bell jar. Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 30 Mar. 2023 Weightlifting was for the circus or the effeminate; ladies didn’t perspire, much less sweat. Katrina Gulliver, WSJ, 2 Jan. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'perspire.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French perspirer, from Middle French, from Latin per- through + spirare to blow, breathe — more at per-

First Known Use

circa 1682, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of perspire was circa 1682

Dictionary Entries Near perspire

Cite this Entry

“Perspire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perspire. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

perspire

verb
per·​spire pər-ˈspī(ə)r How to pronounce perspire (audio)
perspired; perspiring
: to give off perspiration : sweat

Medical Definition

perspire

intransitive verb
per·​spire pər-ˈspī(ə)r How to pronounce perspire (audio)
perspired; perspiring
: to emit matter through the skin
specifically : to secrete and emit perspiration

More from Merriam-Webster on perspire

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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