Breathing vs Is alive

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Breathing

Top 2,000 (common) B1 noun

Is alive

Top 2,000 (common)

	Breathing	Is alive
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈbriːðɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈbriːðɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 //ɪz əˈlaɪv// 🇺🇸 //ɪz əˈlaɪv//
Meaning	The act of taking air into and out of your lungs.	Living or not dead.
Example	Her breathing became steady and she fell asleep.	The patient is alive and recovering well.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	B1	-
Part of speech	noun
Collocations	deep, shallow, controlled, control, regulate, quicken, slow, slow down, apparatus, difficulties, problems	is alive and well, keeps hope alive, is alive with possibilities
Antonyms	suffocation, asphyxiation	-
Common mistakes	Confusing 'breathing' as a noun with 'breathe', which is a verb., Using 'breathing' when referring to a breath, which is a single instance of drawing air., Incorrectly spelling it as 'breething'.	Using 'is alive' even when referring to inanimate objects., Confusing 'alive' with 'living' in some contexts.
Usage notes	Used in both everyday conversation and more serious contexts. Not typically used in slang. Can describe both voluntary and involuntary actions.	Use 'is alive' when confirming someone's or something's existence. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts.

See it in real clips

The Pitt › S1 E1

Airway and breathing are perfect.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. › S1 E1

I stopped breathing for about 40 seconds.

Sherlock › S1 E1

- It's good news for breathing. - Oh, breathing! Breathing's boring.

The Pitt › S1 E1

Airway and breathing are perfect.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. › S1 E1

I stopped breathing for about 40 seconds.

Breathing

He's alive, and I'll show him to you.

That boy is alive.

Avengers › Avengers Endgame

Bucky is alive.

He's alive, and I'll show him to you.

That boy is alive.

Is alive

Frequently asked questions: Breathing vs Is alive

What's the difference between Breathing and Is alive?

Breathing: The act of taking air into and out of your lungs. Is alive: Living or not dead.

Can you show an example of each?

Breathing: Her breathing became steady and she fell asleep. Is alive: The patient is alive and recovering well.

Can I use Breathing and Is alive interchangeably?

Not always. Breathing and Is alive are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.