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breathtaking

[ breth-tey-king ]

/ ˈbrɛθˌteɪ kɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR breathtaking ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

thrillingly beautiful, remarkable, astonishing, exciting, or the like: a breathtaking performance.

Origin of breathtaking

First recorded in 1875–80; breath + take + -ing²

OTHER WORDS FROM breathtaking

breath·tak·ing·ly, adverb

Words nearby breathtaking

breathing, breathing bag, breathing reserve, breathing space, breathless, breathtaking, breathy, breccia, brecciate, brecht, breckinridge

Example sentences from the Web for breathtaking

But the most breathtaking aspects of the image are the rings and gaps in the disk, never imaged before in this much detail.

The Most Stunning View Ever of Planets Being Born |Matthew R. Francis |November 9, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The speed with which the escalation takes place is breathtaking.

Is America a Police State? For Many, Yes |Gene Robinson |September 1, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
I think even just the idea, the very, very romantic idea, that he built this house for them is so breathtaking.

Kerry Washington’s Favorite ‘Scandal’ Season 3 Moments |Kerry Washington |August 8, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
As with many next generation games, Unity is elegant and breathtaking.

Video Games Need More Than Damsels and Dames |Tauriq Moosa |June 18, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

It was breathtaking going there for the first time—truly magical.

Game of Thrones’ Rose Leslie on Ygritte and Jon Snow’s Reunion at the Battle of Castle Black |Marlow Stern |June 10, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The advancing wave of warriors halted with breathtaking abruptness, those behind the front rank crashing into it.

The Return of Tharn |Howard Carleton Browne
The West knew that these institutions were dysfunctional – but not to which breathtaking extent.

After the Rain |Sam Vaknin
Just then something, a breathtaking intuition—I'll never know what—made me turn my head.

The Rustlers of Pecos County |Zane Grey
Why, the little devil looked like a siren and the bare feet in the net were breathtaking.

Janet of the Dunes |Harriet T. Comstock
The havoc wrought among the onrushing pack was breathtaking.

Queen of the Black Coast |Robert E. Howard

British Dictionary definitions for breathtaking

breathtaking

/ (ˈbrɛθˌteɪkɪŋ) /

adjective

causing awe or excitement a breathtaking view

Derived forms of breathtaking

breathtakingly, adverb