- sigh
- {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} nounADJECTIVE▪ big, deep, great, heavy, huge▪ little, slight, small, soft▪ loud, quiet▪ audible, silent▪
There was an audible sigh of relief when the news came through that nobody was hurt.
▪ inward▪Nancy heaved an inward sigh but did as her son suggested.
▪ exaggerated▪ long▪ exhausted, long-suffering, weary▪ defeated, resigned▪ wistful▪His departure prompted a few wistful sighs and the odd tear from admirers.
▪ annoyed, exasperated, frustrated, irritated (esp. AmE)▪ relieved▪ contented, satisfied▪ collective▪The crowd breathed a collective sigh of relief.
VERB + SIGH▪ breathe, give, heave, let out, release▪I breathed a sigh of relief.
▪ hold back, repress, stifle, suppress▪ hearSIGH + VERB▪ escape sb▪A weary sigh escaped him.
▪ come▪A heavy sigh came from her mother.
PREPOSITION▪ on a sigh▪She let out her breath on a sigh.
▪ with a sigh▪‘I suppose we'd better get back to work!’ he said with a heavy sigh.
▪ sigh of▪She gave a deep sigh of contentment.
PHRASES▪ a sigh of relief{{Roman}}II.{{/Roman}}verbADVERB▪ deeply, heavily▪She sighed heavily and sat down.
▪ softly▪ audibly, loudly▪ inwardly▪ a little▪ contentedly, happily▪She looked at her son and sighed happily.
▪ dreamily▪The girl watching him sighed dreamily.
▪ dejectedly, sadly, wistfully▪ resignedly▪ wearily▪He sighed wearily as he looked at the pile of work.
▪ angrily, exasperatedly, impatientlyPREPOSITION▪ in▪He sighed in exasperation.
▪ with▪We sighed with relief when the noise stopped.
Collocations dictionary. 2013.