wheezed; wheezing
1
: to breathe with difficulty usually with a whistling sound
2
: to make a sound resembling that of wheezing
the bellows wheezed
1
: a sound of wheezing
2
a
: an often repeated and widely known joke used especially by entertainers
b
: a trite saying or proverb
Synonyms
Examples of wheeze in a Sentence
Verb
He was up all night hacking and wheezing.
The car's motor wheezed and stalled.
Noun
Between gasps and wheezes, he tried to explain what had happened.
the wheeze of an engine
We can count on him for a good wheeze.
Recent Examples on the Web
J. D. Biersdorfer, New York Times, 8 July 2024
Symptoms, which typically start within five to 30 minutes of contact with an allergen, include hives, swelling of the throat and other areas, wheezing and passing out.
—Meg Tirrell, CNN, 9 Aug. 2024
Phil Hay, The Athletic, 9 Aug. 2024
But when the 2020 wildfires started pumping thick plumes of ugly black smoke into the southern California sky, the 41-year-old Los Angeles resident began to wheeze.
—Linda Carroll, TIME, 30 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for wheeze 
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Verb
The ancient rental car was also wheezing like a mean spirit was trapped inside the engine.
—J. D. Biersdorfer, New York Times, 8 July 2024
Symptoms, which typically start within five to 30 minutes of contact with an allergen, include hives, swelling of the throat and other areas, wheezing and passing out.
—Meg Tirrell, CNN, 9 Aug. 2024
Noun
Their latest wheeze to raise money is getting their caterers to invest.
—Phil Hay, The Athletic, 9 Aug. 2024
But when the 2020 wildfires started pumping thick plumes of ugly black smoke into the southern California sky, the 41-year-old Los Angeles resident began to wheeze.
—Linda Carroll, TIME, 30 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for wheeze
Dictionary Entries Near wheeze
Cite this Entry
“Wheeze.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wheeze. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wheeze
1 of 2 verb
ˈhwēz 
ˈwēz
wheezed; wheezing
1
: to breathe with difficulty especially with a whistling sound
2
: to make a sound like wheezing
wheeze
2 of 2 noun
: a wheezing sound
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