AIR Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
air
1 of 2noun
ˈer plural airs Synonyms of air 1 a : the mixture of invisible odorless tasteless gases (such as nitrogen and oxygen) that surrounds the earth also : the equivalent mix of gases on another celestial object (such as a planet) … the thin, frigid air of Mars. Stefano S. Coledan b : a light breeze c archaic : breath 2 a (1) : aircraft traveling by air often used before another noun air travel (2) : aviation often used before another noun air safety air rights (3) : air force often used before another noun air headquarters b (1) : the medium of transmission of radio waves also : radio , television went on the air (2) : airtime 3 a : outward appearance of a thing an air of luxury b : a surrounding or pervading influence : atmosphere an air of mystery c : the look, appearance, or bearing of a person especially as expressive of some personal quality or emotion : demeanor an air of dignity d : an artificial or affected manner put on airs 4 a : nothingness usually used in the phrases into thin air and out of thin air vanished/disappeared into thin air … nor did any of them seem to have noticed that six people had just melted into thin air in front of them. J. K. Rowling … jobs can't just be created out of thin air . The Wall Street Journal b : empty space c old-fashioned : a sudden severance of relations She gave me the air . 5 [probably translation of Italian aria ] a : tune , melody a lilting air b : the chief voice part or melody in choral music c Elizabethan and Jacobean music : an accompanied song or melody in usually strophic form 6 : an air-conditioning system a house with central air 7 : public utterance He gave air to his opinion. 8 : a football offense utilizing primarily the forward pass Trailing by 20 points, the team took to the air . 9 : the height achieved in performing an aerial maneuver a snowboarder catching big air also : the maneuver itself 10 : compressed air airless ˈer-ləs adjective airlessness nounair
2 of 2verb
aired ; airing ; airstransitive verb
1 : to expose to the air for drying, purifying, or refreshing : ventilate often used with out He opened the windows to air out the room. 2 : to expose to public view or bring to public notice aired their complaints 3 : to transmit by radio or television air a programintransitive verb
1 : to become exposed to the open air The blankets were left outside to air . 2 : to become broadcast a program that airs daily Phrases in the air : being felt or expressed by many people : in wide circulation There was a sense of anticipation in the air . up in the air : not yet settled a question that's still up in the airSynonyms
Noun
lay melody song strain tune warbleVerb
expound express give look raise sound state vent ventilate voice See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus Choose the Right Synonym for airNoun
pose , air , airs , affectation , mannerism mean an adopted way of speaking or behaving.
pose implies an attitude deliberately assumed in order to impress others.
her shyness was just a poseair may suggest natural acquirement through environment or way of life.
a traveler's sophisticated airairs always implies artificiality and pretentiousness.
snobbish airsaffectation applies to a trick of speech or behavior that strikes the observer as insincere.
the posh accent is an affectationmannerism applies to an acquired eccentricity that has become a habit.
gesturing with a cigarette was her most noticeable mannerismVerb
express , vent , utter , voice , broach , air mean to make known what one thinks or feels.
express suggests an impulse to reveal in words, gestures, actions, or what one creates or produces.
expressed her feelings in musicvent stresses a strong inner compulsion to express especially in words.
a tirade venting his frustrationutter implies the use of the voice not necessarily in articulate speech.
utter a groanvoice does not necessarily imply vocal utterance but does imply expression or formulation in words.
an editorial voicing their concernsbroach adds the implication of disclosing for the first time something long thought over or reserved for a suitable occasion.
broached the subject of a divorceair implies an exposing or parading of one's views often in order to gain relief or sympathy or attention.
publicly airing their differencesExamples of air in a Sentence
Noun These laws are meant to produce cleaner air . A delicious smell filled the air . I like to dine outdoors in the open air . He can't breathe! Everybody move back and give him some air ! High in the mountains the air is thin and it can be hard to breathe. He pumped air into the bicycle tire. The city is wonderful seen from the air . the fish of the sea and the birds of the air The balloon rose up into the air and then floated through the air . There has been heavy fighting on the ground and in the air . Verb The blankets were left outside to air . She opened the windows to air the room. The company had a meeting so that employees could air their complaints. The interview will be aired tomorrow. The interview will air tomorrow. See More Recent Examples on the Web Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback . Noun Some say the resulting Pulitzer Prize-winning photographs, which included an image of a bloody Trump defiantly throwing his first in the air , won him the election. M. J. Corey, New Yorker , 24 May 2025 Be sure the lid is tightly sealed to limit exposure to air , moisture, and bacteria. Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living , 24 May 2025 Verb In Europe, the series will air in Germany and German-speaking territories on ZDF, Flemish Belgium on VRT, Sweden on SVT and the Netherlands on NPO, and BBC Studios has licensed it in the Balkans and Central Eastern Europe. Jesse Whittock, Deadline , 13 May 2025 Every single stage direction, every moment of tempo, every color of every sash, the provenance of every prop, every possible confusion is all aired out. Adam B. Vary, Variety , 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for airWord History
EtymologyNoun and Verb
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin aer , from Greek aēr air
First Known UseNoun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1530, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Time Traveler The first known use of air was in the 14th century See more words from the same centuryPhrases Containing air
a change of air air bag air ball air base air bed air bladder air brake air - breathing air burst air chief marshal air commodore air - condition air cover air - cushion vehicle air dam air differences air - dry air force air fryer air guitar air gun air hockey air hole air hostess air - kiss air lane air letter air line air lock air marshal air mass air mattress air mile air - minded air of superiority air one's dirty laundry air passage air piracy air plant air pocket air police air pump air quotes air rage air raid air rifle air right air sac air show air spring air strike air superiority air suspension air taxi air - to - air air traffic control air traffic controller air transportation air vice - marshal blue the air breath of fresh air by air castle in the air chief master sergeant of the air force clear - air turbulence clear the air come / go on the air compressed air dead air dead - air space disappear / vanish into thin air floating on air forward air controller general of the air force go off the air hang in the air have one's nose in the air heavier - than - air hot air hot - air balloon into thin air light air lighter - than - air off - air off the air on air on the air open air out of thin air plein air sea air surface - to - air surface - to - air missile take off the air the open air throw one's hands up (in the air) un - air - conditioned walking on air with one's nose in the air See MoreRhymes for air
ayre bahr bare blare care chair claire ere err eyre fair fare See All Rhymes for airBrowse Nearby Words
AIPAC air Aira See all Nearby WordsArticles Related to air
14 Airy, Puffy Words for Windy Speech
Swell words for words lacking substance.Cite this Entry
Style MLA Chicago APA Merriam-Webster“Air.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/air. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
Copy CitationShare
Kids Definition
air
1 of 2 noun ˈa(ə)r ˈe(ə)r 1 a : the invisible mixture of odorless tasteless gases (as nitrogen and oxygen) that surrounds the earth b : a light breeze 2 : the state of being empty or nothing usually used in the phrase into thin air vanished into thin air 3 : tune entry 1 sense 1 , melody 4 a : outward appearance an air of mystery b plural : an artificial way of acting put on airs 5 : compressed air put air in a tire 6 a : aircraft travel by air b : aviation air safety 7 a : the substance through which radio waves travel b : a radio or television broadcast went on the air 8 : an air-conditioning system turn on the air 9 : the height achieved in performing a maneuver in the air a snowboarder catching big airair
2 of 2 verb 1 : to place in the air for cooling, freshening, or cleaning air blankets 2 : to make known in public air one's complaints 3 : to broadcast on radio or televisionMedical Definition
air
noun ˈa(ə)r, ˈe(ə)r : a mixture of invisible odorless tasteless sound-transmitting gases that is composed by volume chiefly of 78 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen, 0.9 percent argon, 0.03 percent carbon dioxide, varying amounts of water vapor, and minute amounts of rare gases (as helium), that surrounds the earth with half its mass within four miles of the earth's surface, that has a pressure at sea level of about 14.7 pounds per square inch, and that has a density of 1.293 grams per liter at 0°C and 760 mm pressureMore from Merriam-Webster on air
Nglish: Translation of air for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about air
Last Updated: 27 May 2025 - Updated example sentences Love words? Need even more definitions?Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search ad free!
Merriam-Webster unabridgedMore from Merriam-Webster
Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play PlayCan you solve 4 words at once?
Play PlayWord of the Day
interminable
See Definitions and Examples
Get Word of the Day daily email!
Popular in Grammar & Usage
See More'Affect' vs. 'Effect'
Using Bullet Points ( • )
'Bring' vs. 'Take'
Words You Always Have to Look Up
Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See MorePopular in Wordplay
See MoreTop 12 Sophisticated Compliments
8 Words for the Wordy and Talking Too Much
Possum vs. Opossum: Is There a Difference?
'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See MorePopular
See More'Affect' vs. 'Effect'
Top 12 Sophisticated Compliments
8 Words for the Wordy and Talking Too Much
See MoreGames & Quizzes
See All Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once? Play Blossom Word Game Pick the best words! Play Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist Play Quiz: Sounds Like Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue Take the quiz See All Merriam WebsterLearn a new word every day. Delivered to your inbox!
Help About Us Advertising Info Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram© 2025 Merriam-Webster, Incorporated