Sighed
/saɪd/
verbA2past tense
Definition
To sigh is to take a deep breath and let it out slowly, usually to show feelings like sadness, tiredness, or relief. It is a simple action that people do when they feel strong emotions or want to express something without words.
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See It in Action
To breathe out slowly to show feelings
- •She sighed deeply after finishing her work.
- •He sighed with relief when the test was over.
- •They sighed sadly at the bad news.
To express emotion quietly without words
- •The child sighed because he was disappointed.
- •She sighed, showing she was tired of waiting.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "sighed" like "breathed out," but with emotion—it's not just breathing, it's showing how you feel
- ✓Picture someone sitting quietly, slowly letting air out with a soft sound after a hard day
- ✓It's the feeling when you are tired or a little sad, and you let your feelings come out without speaking
- ✓Sounds like "side" → imagine a soft wind blowing gently from the side of your mouth when you sigh
- ✓In stories, characters often sigh when they feel worried or tired, like after bad news or a long wait
- ✓NOT like "yawn" (which shows tiredness and opens the mouth wide), "sigh" is softer and shows emotion more clearly
- ✓NOT like "cry" (which shows sadness with tears), "sigh" is quieter and shows feelings without tears
Try Other Words
- •Exhaled: breathed air out (Use when focusing on the physical act without emotion)
- •Moaned: made a low sound showing pain or sadness (Use when the sound is louder and more about pain)
- •Groaned: made a low sound of discomfort or sadness (Use when feeling stronger or more negative than sighing)
- •Whispered: spoke very quietly (Use when the expression is with words, not just breath)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: base "sigh" + past tense "-ed"
- •Etymology: Old English "sīgan" meaning to exhale or breathe out slowly
- •Historical development: Used for centuries to describe the breath sound showing feelings
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in everyday speech and writing to show quiet emotional expression
Reflect & Connect
•When do you usually sigh? Is it more when you feel tired, sad, or relieved?
•Can sighing sometimes help you feel better? Why do you think that is?
Fill in the blanks
1.She sighed ___ after hearing the bad news because she felt ___.
2.When he finished the difficult task, he sighed with ___.
3.A sigh is different from a yawn because a yawn usually shows ___, but a sigh shows ___.
4.People often sighed ___ when they want to express feelings without ___.
5.After waiting a long time, she sighed ___ and looked ___.
6.He sighed and then ___ quietly, showing he was ___.
7.If someone sighs loudly, it usually means they feel ___ or ___ about something.