Etymology From Middle English sighen (“to sigh”), back-formation from sighte, past tense form of siken, from Old English sīcan, from Proto-West Germanic *sīkan, perhaps ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *seykʷ- (“to pour out”).
1
To inhale a larger quantity of air than usual, and immediately expel it; to make a deep single audible respiration, especially as the result or involuntary expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, frustration, or the like.
When she saw it wasn't damaged, she sighed with relief.
He sighed. It was going to be a long night.
2 more examples
He sighed over the lost opportunity.
A waiter brought his aperitif, which was a small scotch and soda, and as he sipped it gratefully he sighed. ‘Civilized,’ he said to Mr. Campion. ‘Humanizing.’ […] ‘Cigars and summer days and women in big hats with swansdown face-powder, that's what it reminds me of.’1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 5, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
2
To lament; to grieve.
He sighed deeply in his spirit.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Mark 8:12:
3
To utter sighs over; to lament or mourn over.
Ages to come, and men unborn, / Shall bless her name, and sigh her fate.1695, Matthew Prior, An ode presented to the king, on His Majesty's arrival in Holland, after the Queen's death:
The lassie had grace given her to refuse, but with a woeful heart, and Heriotside rode off in black discontent, leaving poor Ailie to sigh her love. He came back the next day and the next, but aye he got the same answer.1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:
4
To make a sound like sighing.
The wind sighed in the trees.
And the coming wind did roar more loud, / And the sails did sigh like sedge.1797–1798 (date written), [Samuel Taylor Coleridge], “The Rime of the Ancyent Marinere”, in Lyrical Ballads, with a Few Other Poems, London: […] J[ohn] & A[rthur] Arch, […], published 1798, →OCLC:
1 more example
The winter winds are wearily sighing.1832 December (indicated as 1833), Alfred Tennyson, “The Death of the Old Year”, in Poems, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:
5
To exhale (the breath) in sighs.
She sighed a sigh that was nearly a groan.
sigh a note and sing a note
2 more examples
She sighed her relief when she found her missing toddler.
Never man sighed truer breath.c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene v]:
6
To express by sighs; to utter in or with sighs.
"I guess I have no choice," she sighed.
She sighed her frustrations.
2 more examples
They […] sighed forth proverbs.c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
The gentle swain […] sighs back her grief.1763, Torquato Tasso, translated by John Hoole, Jerusalem Delivered:
Etymology From Middle English sighe (“sigh”), from sighen (“to sigh”) (see ).
1
A deep, prolonged audible inhale and exhale of breath; as when fatigued, frustrated, grieved, or relieved; the act of sighing.
To Pollyanna the air was all the more stifling after that cool breath of the out of doors; but she did not complain. She only drew a long quivering sigh.1913, Eleanor H. Porter, chapter 7, in Pollyanna, L.C. Page, →OCLC: