: a chronic lung disorder that is marked by recurring episodes of airway obstruction (as from bronchospasm) manifested by labored breathing accompanied especially by wheezing and coughing and by a sense of constriction in the chest, and that is triggered by hyperreactivity to various stimuli (such as allergens or rapid change in air temperature)
Examples of asthma in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Common causes of shortness of breath include physical deconditioning, obesity, anxiety, asthma, heart failure, heart attack, COPD, and pneumonia.
—
Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 28 Oct. 2025
Beta blockers are not recommended for performance anxiety for people who have asthma, low blood pressure or cardiovascular diseases, experts say.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Oct. 2025
The film follows Putra, a 13-year-old boy with asthma who dreams of playing for Indonesia’s national soccer team.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
Novartis has been proactively striking deals this year to address the impending patent cliff for some of its blockbuster drugs, including Entresto for heart failure, Xolair for asthma and Cosentyx for autoimmune diseases.
—Reuters, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
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Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 28 Oct. 2025
Beta blockers are not recommended for performance anxiety for people who have asthma, low blood pressure or cardiovascular diseases, experts say.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Oct. 2025
The film follows Putra, a 13-year-old boy with asthma who dreams of playing for Indonesia’s national soccer team.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
Novartis has been proactively striking deals this year to address the impending patent cliff for some of its blockbuster drugs, including Entresto for heart failure, Xolair for asthma and Cosentyx for autoimmune diseases.
—Reuters, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for asthma
Cite this Entry
“Asthma.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/asthma. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
asthma
noun
asth·ma
ˈaz-mə 
: a condition that is marked by difficulty in breathing with wheezing, a feeling of tightness in the chest, and coughing
Medical Definition
asthma
noun
asth·ma
ˈaz-mə
: a chronic lung disorder that is marked by recurring episodes of airway obstruction (as from bronchospasm) manifested by labored breathing accompanied especially by wheezing and coughing and by a sense of constriction in the chest, and that is triggered by hyperreactivity to various stimuli (as allergens or rapid change in air temperature)
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