How do you pronounce "with bated breath"?

Pronounced //wɪð ˈbeɪtɪd ˈbɹɛθ//.

With bated breath

Q: What is a synonym for "with bated breath"?

Common synonyms include: abjectly, anticipatingly, anticipatively, anticipatorily, anxious, apprehensive.

/wɪð ˈbeɪtɪd ˈbɹɛθ/ prep_phrase

prep_phrase ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Prep_phrase

1
With reduced breath.
"Shall I bend low, and in a bond-mans key / With bated breath, and whiſpring humbleneſſe, / Say this:"
2
Eagerly; with great anticipation. idiomatic
"We are waiting with bated breath for the release of the new version."

Synonyms

All synonyms

abjectly anticipatingly anticipatively anticipatorily anxious apprehensive

Example

More examples

"Shall I bend low, and in a bond-mans key / With bated breath, and whiſpring humbleneſſe, / Say this:"

Etymology

From the verb bate, alteration by aphesis of the verb abate (“to reduce; lessen”). Coined by William Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice, see quotations.

Next best steps

Browse writing guides Explore topic clusters