You can use breathtaking to say something is very, very beautiful. If you see a big mountain or a pretty beach, you can say, 'The view is breathtaking!' It means you like it so much that you are surprised. It is a great word to use when you are happy and excited about what you see.
When you see something amazing, like a sunset or a famous building, you can call it breathtaking. It is a strong word that means 'very beautiful.' You can use it like this: 'The show was breathtaking.' It is a common word in travel and movies. Try using it next time you see something special!
Breathtaking is an adjective used to describe things that are so impressive they make you stop and look. It is often used for landscapes, like 'a breathtaking view of the ocean.' You can also use it for performances, such as 'a breathtaking dance.' It is a more descriptive word than 'beautiful' or 'nice,' so use it when you want to show strong emotion.
Native speakers use breathtaking to express awe. It is a versatile word that fits well in both formal and informal contexts. For instance, you might read about 'breathtaking progress in technology' or 'a breathtaking performance' in a review. It suggests that the subject is so exceptional that it commands your full attention and admiration.
At an advanced level, breathtaking is often used to describe the scale or intensity of something. It can be applied to abstract concepts, such as 'breathtaking incompetence' or 'breathtaking speed of change,' where the word emphasizes the sheer magnitude of the situation. It is a powerful tool for adding emphasis and nuance to your descriptions, moving beyond simple adjectives to convey a sense of profound impact.
In C2 usage, breathtaking carries a weight of literary and rhetorical power. It is frequently employed to evoke a visceral reaction in the reader, bridging the gap between physical sensation and intellectual appreciation. Whether describing a sublime landscape in a novel or the sheer audacity of a political maneuver, the word serves as a marker of extremity. Its etymological roots in the physical act of breathing lend it a poetic quality that makes it a staple in high-level descriptive writing and sophisticated discourse.
breathtaking in 30 Seconds
- Used to describe something amazing.
- Means it makes you stop breathing.
- Very common in travel and art.
- Avoid using 'very' before it.
Have you ever seen a sunset so vibrant or a mountain view so massive that you just stopped in your tracks? That feeling of being stunned by beauty is exactly what we call breathtaking.
It is a powerful adjective that acts as a superlative of 'beautiful' or 'impressive.' When you use this word, you are telling your listener that the experience was not just good—it was life-changingly good. It suggests that the object or event is so overwhelming that your body reacts physically, as if you have lost your breath for a brief moment.
You will hear this word used in many contexts, from travel reviews to describing a dancer's performance. It is a very positive, high-energy word that adds a lot of emotion to your sentences. Think of it as the ultimate compliment for something visual or experiential.
The word breathtaking is a compound adjective formed from two simple Germanic roots: breath and taking. The term 'breath' comes from the Old English bræth, meaning scent or exhalation, while 'take' comes from the Old Norse taka.
Historically, the phrase 'to take one's breath away' emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries as a figurative way to describe the physical sensation of shock or surprise. By the early 20th century, the two words were combined into the single adjective breathtaking that we use today.
It is fascinating to see how language evolved to capture this specific physical reaction. While we don't literally stop breathing when we see a pretty flower, the metaphor has become a standard part of English. It reflects our human tendency to link our physical body states to our emotional responses to the world around us.
You can use breathtaking in almost any context where you want to emphasize extreme quality. It is very common to see it paired with nouns like view, scenery, performance, or speed.
In formal writing, it is often used to describe professional achievements or architectural marvels. In casual conversation, you might use it to describe a movie or a piece of art. Because it is a strong word, you don't need to add modifiers like 'very' or 'extremely'—it is already a strong adjective on its own.
Be careful not to overuse it! If you call everything 'breathtaking,' the word loses its impact. Save it for those rare moments that truly leave you speechless. It is perfect for travel blogs, romantic descriptions, or high-praise reviews.
The core idiom is to take someone's breath away, which means to cause someone to be surprised or amazed. For example: The view from the top of the tower took my breath away.
Another related expression is breathtakingly beautiful, which uses the adverbial form to intensify the description. We also use breathtaking speed when something moves so fast it is shocking. A breathtaking sight is a classic collocation used to describe a stunning panorama. Finally, breathtaking audacity is a way to describe someone who is so bold or rude that it shocks everyone around them.
Breathtaking is a standard adjective. It does not have a plural form because it describes a quality, not a thing. The stress is on the first syllable: BREATH-taking.
In IPA, it is transcribed as /ˈbreθˌteɪkɪŋ/ for both US and UK English. It rhymes with words like earth-shaking or heart-breaking. Remember that the 'th' sound is unvoiced, like in 'bath.' This is a very common word for learners to practice because it combines the tricky 'th' sound with the 'k' and 't' plosives.
Fun Fact
The word is a modern compound of two ancient Germanic roots.
Pronunciation Guide
- Pronouncing 'th' as 'f'
- Missing the 'k' sound
- Stressing the second syllable
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to use
Easy to pronounce
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Strong Adjectives
Breathtaking is a strong adjective.
Compound Adjectives
Breath + taking
Adverb placement
Breathtakingly beautiful
Examples by Level
The view is breathtaking.
view = looking at something
adjective after verb
It is a breathtaking house.
house = where you live
adjective before noun
The sunset is breathtaking.
sunset = sun going down
simple sentence
What a breathtaking park!
park = place to play
exclamation
The flowers are breathtaking.
flowers = plants with color
plural noun
It was a breathtaking day.
day = 24 hours
past tense
That is breathtaking!
that = the thing I see
demonstrative pronoun
Breathtaking colors!
colors = red, blue, etc
fragment
The mountain climb offered a breathtaking view.
Her singing voice was truly breathtaking.
We saw a breathtaking performance at the theater.
The speed of the car was breathtaking.
It was a breathtaking moment for everyone.
The architecture of the cathedral is breathtaking.
He gave a breathtaking speech at the party.
The winter landscape was simply breathtaking.
The breathtaking scenery made the long hike worth it.
She achieved a breathtaking victory in the final seconds.
The film features some breathtaking cinematography.
The pace of the project has been breathtaking.
We were left speechless by the breathtaking sunset.
The museum houses a breathtaking collection of art.
The breathtaking beauty of the island is famous.
His breathtaking talent was obvious to everyone.
The sheer scale of the project was breathtaking.
The team made a breathtaking comeback in the second half.
The breathtaking audacity of his plan shocked the board.
She delivered a breathtakingly honest account of her life.
The city skyline is absolutely breathtaking at night.
The breathtaking complexity of the machine is impressive.
They witnessed a breathtaking display of fireworks.
The breathtaking speed of the innovation surprised the market.
The breathtaking incompetence of the management led to the collapse.
He spoke with a breathtaking lack of awareness.
The breathtaking scope of the novel spans three centuries.
The breathtaking precision of the surgeon saved his life.
The breathtaking irony of the situation was not lost on us.
The breathtaking volatility of the stock market is concerning.
The breathtaking depth of her research is truly remarkable.
The breathtaking arrogance of the dictator was his downfall.
The breathtaking sublime of the Alps has inspired poets for centuries.
There was a breathtaking stillness in the air before the storm.
The breathtaking convergence of history and myth is evident here.
His breathtaking command of the language left the audience in awe.
The breathtaking paradox of modern life is our constant connectivity.
The breathtaking austerity of the design reflects a minimalist philosophy.
The breathtaking fragility of the ecosystem is a cause for concern.
A breathtaking silence fell over the room as the truth emerged.
Synonyms
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"take one's breath away"
to surprise or amaze
The surprise party took my breath away.
neutral"hold one's breath"
to wait anxiously
We held our breath during the penalty kick.
neutral"save one's breath"
to not bother speaking
Don't argue, just save your breath.
casual"a breath of fresh air"
something new and refreshing
Her ideas were a breath of fresh air.
neutral"in the same breath"
at the same time
He apologized and insulted her in the same breath.
neutral"waste of breath"
useless to speak
Talking to him is a waste of breath.
casualEasily Confused
similar root
breathless means out of air; breathtaking means amazing
I was breathless after running. The view was breathtaking.
different part of speech
adverb vs adjective
It is breathtaking. It is breathtakingly beautiful.
similar meaning
stunning can mean physically shocked; breathtaking is more about awe
The news was stunning. The view was breathtaking.
noun form
breathtaker is not a common noun
Don't use 'breathtaker', use 'breathtaking' as an adjective.
Sentence Patterns
The [noun] is breathtaking.
The sunset is breathtaking.
It is a breathtaking [noun].
It is a breathtaking view.
The [noun] was breathtakingly [adjective].
The room was breathtakingly beautiful.
I witnessed a breathtaking [noun].
I witnessed a breathtaking performance.
The breathtaking [noun] left me [adjective].
The breathtaking view left me speechless.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
-
Very breathtaking
→
Breathtaking
Breathtaking is already a strong adjective; 'very' is redundant.
-
Breathtakingly view
→
Breathtaking view
Use the adjective form for nouns, not the adverb.
-
Breathtaking to me
→
Breathtaking
While grammatically okay, it is usually used as a standalone descriptor.
-
Breath-taking (hyphenated)
→
Breathtaking
It is usually written as one word.
-
Breathtakingly beautiful view
→
Breathtakingly beautiful view
This is actually correct, but be careful not to confuse it with just 'breathtaking view'.
Tips
Save it for the best
Only use it for things that truly amaze you.
No 'very'
Don't add 'very' before strong adjectives.
The 'th' sound
Practice the tongue position for 'th'.
Word association
Pair it with 'view' or 'performance'.
Travel context
Use it when writing about your vacations.
Spelling check
Remember it is one word.
Physical reaction
It describes a literal feeling of shock.
The 'B' trick
Breathtaking = Big + Beautiful.
Adverb form
Use 'breathtakingly' to modify verbs or adjectives.
Flashcards
Use it in a sentence on the back of your card.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Breath + Taking = The view is so good it takes your breath away.
Visual Association
Imagine standing on a cliff edge looking at a sunset.
Word Web
Challenge
Describe your favorite place using the word.
Word Origin
English
Original meaning: Causing one to stop breathing due to shock
Cultural Context
None, it is a highly positive word.
Used frequently in travel journalism and romantic literature.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Travel
- breathtaking view
- breathtaking scenery
- breathtaking landscape
Performance
- breathtaking performance
- breathtaking show
- breathtaking talent
Business
- breathtaking growth
- breathtaking speed
- breathtaking change
Art
- breathtaking design
- breathtaking beauty
- breathtaking composition
Conversation Starters
"What is the most breathtaking place you have ever visited?"
"Have you ever seen a performance that was breathtaking?"
"What do you think is a breathtaking natural wonder?"
"Can a piece of technology be breathtaking?"
"How would you describe a breathtaking sunset to a friend?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a moment in your life that was breathtaking.
Write about a place you want to visit that you think will be breathtaking.
If you could create something breathtaking, what would it be?
Why do we use the word 'breathtaking' to describe beauty?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsYes, but it usually refers to their beauty or performance.
No, it is one word.
It is better to avoid it as it is already strong.
Yes, to describe growth or results.
Unremarkable or mundane.
Yes, a breathtaking piece of music.
It is neutral and works in most settings.
No, it is an adjective.
Test Yourself
The view from the mountain is ___.
It describes something amazing.
Which word means 'very beautiful'?
Breathtaking is a synonym for stunning.
Breathtaking is a negative word.
It is a very positive word.
Word
Meaning
Matching synonyms and antonyms.
The view is breathtaking.
The ___ speed of the car was scary.
Breathtaking can describe speed.
What does 'breathtaking audacity' mean?
Audacity is boldness.
You should use 'very' before breathtaking.
It is already a strong adjective.
Word
Meaning
Advanced vocabulary matching.
The scale of the project was breathtaking.
Score: /10
Summary
Breathtaking is the perfect word to describe something so beautiful it leaves you speechless.
- Used to describe something amazing.
- Means it makes you stop breathing.
- Very common in travel and art.
- Avoid using 'very' before it.
Save it for the best
Only use it for things that truly amaze you.
No 'very'
Don't add 'very' before strong adjectives.
The 'th' sound
Practice the tongue position for 'th'.
Word association
Pair it with 'view' or 'performance'.
Example
The view from the hotel balcony was absolutely breathtaking.
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