Verbs for Involuntary Actions

to take air into one's lungs and let it out again

She breathes deeply to calm her nerves before the presentation.

to take air or substances into the lungs by breathing in

The swimmer took a deep breath and prepared to inhale before diving into the pool.

to breathe air or smoke out through the mouth or nose

After holding her breath, she slowly exhaled and relaxed.

to breathe in and out, taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide from the lungs

Humans respire to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide in their lungs.

to draw air into and expel it from the lungs

Humans suspire naturally as part of the respiratory cycle.

to inhale and exhale smoke from a pipe, cigarette, or cigar

Smokers puff on cigarettes to inhale and exhale the smoke.

to breathe in sharply with an open mouth, often in response to surprise, pain, or intense emotions

She gasped in surprise when she saw the unexpected gift.

to breathe quickly and loudly, often due to excitement, exertion, or energetic activity

After the intense sprint, he began to pant heavily to catch his breath.

to unexpectedly open one's mouth wide and deeply breathe in because of being bored or tired

As the lecture dragged on, students began to yawn in boredom.

to make a sudden, involuntary sound caused by a spasm of the diaphragm, often as a result of eating or drinking too quickly

After gulping down his drink, he began to hiccup unexpectedly.

to release air from the stomach through the mouth

He couldn't help but burp loudly after finishing the meal.

to expel gas audibly from the stomach through the mouth

He couldn't help but belch loudly after the hearty meal.

to break down food in the body and to absorb its nutrients and necessary substances

Our bodies use enzymes to digest food in the stomach.

to break down substances like food or drugs to produce energy or support various bodily functions

The digestive system helps metabolize the nutrients from the food we consume.

to become red in the face, especially as a result of shyness or shame

She couldn't help but blush when complimented on her performance.

to become red, often in response to emotions like embarrassment, shame, or surprise

His face began to redden when he realized he was late for the meeting.

to experience a reddening of the skin, typically in the face, due to emotions like embarrassment, excitement, or strong reactions

When she received the unexpected compliment, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

having a rich, dark red color with tints of purple

the body's way of cooling down with a salty liquid

The athletes' sweat dripped onto the gym floor as they pushed themselves to the limit.

to produce small drops of liquid on the surface of the skin, often as a result of physical exertion, anxiety, or heat

I tend to perspire a lot when I'm anxious.

to open and close the eyes quickly and for a brief moment

The bright light made her blink.

to release liquid waste from the body

After a long road trip, I had to find a restroom to pee.

to expel urine from the body

The dog pissed on the fire hydrant to mark its territory.

to release liquid waste from the body

After holding it in for hours, John urgently needed to urinate.