What Does the Sighing Emoji 😮‍💨 Mean?

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What’s someone trying to say with this exhaling emoji?

Co-authored by Ali Garbacz, B.A. Reviewed by Anyah Le Gilmore-Jones

Last Updated: April 26, 2025 Fact Checked

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Meanings & Uses

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Responding to 😮‍💨 (Sigh Emoji)

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Emojis to Pair with 😮‍💨 (Sigh Emoji)

Someone just sent you the 😮‍💨 (sigh) emoji over text. Are they relieved? Disappointed? Upset? There are tons of ways this exhaling face can be interpreted, and we’re here to explain to you exactly what it means and how people usually use it. We’ll also be sure to give you plenty of options for replies you can send when you see this pixelated pal pop up in your messages.

Things You Should Know

The 😮‍💨 (sigh or face exhaling) emoji mainly represents exhaustion, worry, or disappointment when someone is feeling overwhelmed or sad.
Sending the 😮‍💨 (sigh) emoji can also be a person’s way of conveying relief when something good happens.
Send an encouraging message and let the other person know you’re there for them if they express sadness or worry with the 😮‍💨 (sigh) emoji.

Section 1 of 3:

😮‍💨 (Sigh Emoji) Meanings & Uses

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The 😮‍💨 (sigh) emoji means someone’s feeling exhausted. Someone who’s had a particularly hectic day or is feeling super overwhelmed by all the work or studying they have to do might send you this sighing emoji. You can practically feel their weariness being conveyed through this big, digital exhale.^{[1]
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- “Work was so crazy today. I just want to lay down 😮‍💨”
- “I just got done with my test and literally feel like passing out 😮‍💨😴”
- “😮‍💨😭 I need a vacation.”
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😮‍💨 can imply that someone’s disappointed or upset. Haven’t you ever felt the urge to just let out a deep sigh when things don’t go as planned? That might be exactly what your friend is trying to convey to you over text by sending 😮‍💨.^{[2]
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- “I can’t believe I didn’t pass this test 😮‍💨 I studied so hard! 😤”
- “I didn’t get the concert tickets 😮‍💨”
- “😮‍💨 I didn’t win the contest. Guess I’ll try again next time 🤷”
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😮‍💨 means that someone is feeling anxious or nervous. When your friend or family member sends you 😮‍💨, it might mean that they have something big coming up and are feeling a bit nervous. In this case, 😮‍💨 looks more like someone letting out a nervous exhale and trying to calm down.^{[3]
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- “My presentation is literally in 10 minutes 😮‍💨 Wish me luck 😭”
- “My boss just said she wants to ‘talk’ to me. Cool, I’m totally not nervous at all haha 😮‍💨😅”
- “Test results come out today. I’m trying so hard not to freak out right now 😮‍💨”
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Sending 😮‍💨 can convey relief. This emoji is a visual representation of what it feels like to finally be able to breathe after going through something stressful or nerve-wracking. Maybe your friend just got out of a job interview, or maybe they finally finished a huge project they were working on. Either case would be the perfect time to send 😮‍💨.^{[4]
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- “It took me a collective 20 hours, but I finally finished this essay 😮‍💨”
- “Turns out my cough was just from allergies and I’m not actually sick 😮‍💨”
- “Just found out that my appointment is actually at 3, so I can still make it to your party! 😮‍💨🎉”
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A person might be telling you they’re bored by sending 😮‍💨. In this case, the sigh this little emoji is letting out is one of boredom. Maybe they’re stuck in a super boring meeting, or maybe they’re sitting at home with nothing to do. Sending the sighing emoji might be their subtle plea for you to entertain them.^{[5]
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- “This class is so boring 😮‍💨 I haven’t been listening for the last 30 minutes.”
- “It’s Friday night and I’m literally sitting at home 😮‍💨 Wanna hang out?”
- “My friend is making me watch a documentary about snails 😮‍💨🙄 Save me.”
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Sending 😮‍💨 might mean that someone is literally out of breath. When you look at it, the 😮‍💨 emoji also looks like a person trying to catch their breath after running around or doing some other physical activity. If someone sent you 😮‍💨, it could mean that they’re texting you while they’re still out of breath.
- “I know I’m late, but just know that I’m literally running to get there 😮‍💨😮‍💨🏃”
- “Just got back from the gym 😮‍💨🏋️”
- “I didn’t realize that bike riding was so tiring 😮‍💨😮‍💨”
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😮‍💨 represents someone exhaling smoke or a breath. Since there’s a puff of smoke coming out of this emoji’s mouth, some people use it to tell others that they’re smoking or vaping. It could also be interpreted as someone exhaling when the weather is so cold that it makes their breath visible.^{[6]
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- “I’m going out for a smoke break 😮‍💨🚬”
- “It’s so cold today I can literally see my breath 😮‍💨🥶”

Section 2 of 3:

Responding to 😮‍💨 (Sigh Emoji)

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Remind the other person to rest and take care of themselves. If your friend, family member, or significant other sends you 😮‍💨 to express how exhausted they are, be sure to tell them to take a well-deserved rest. Suggest things they can do to relax and let them know you’ll be there if they need you.
- “Oh man that sounds rough. Be sure to drink lots of water 💦 and eat something 🍔”
- “You should definitely take a nap 😴💤 You definitely deserve it ❤️”
- “Be sure to relax tonight! If you need anything, I’ll be here! 😊😘”
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Send them a supportive message when they’re feeling down. If someone is feeling disappointed because something didn’t work out, send them some encouraging and supportive words to help them get through it. Tack on lots of heart emojis to show them that you love them and will be there to help them no matter what.
- “I’m sorry to hear that 😔 If you want to talk about it, I’m always here 💕”
- “Let me know if you need anything 🥺 I bet you’re feeling pretty disappointed.”
- “Let’s go out and get something to eat and take your mind off of it. My treat ❤️”
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Give them strength with an encouraging message when they’re nervous. If your friend is freaking out about something big, do your best to calm them down and remind them that they’re going to be just fine.
- “It’s going to be okay. You’ve got this! 😁”
- “You have absolutely no reason to be nervous. I know for a fact that you did amazing 😘”
- “Whatever you’re worried about, it’s all going to be just fine. Just remember to breath 😮‍💨”
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Congratulate them on their accomplishments. If someone’s sending you a big sigh of relief over text after they just finished something like a big project, be sure to congratulate them. Send lots of fun and festive emojis to express your excitement and joy. Feel free to also send 😮‍💨 right back to them to express your similar feelings of relief.
- “OMG I’m so proud of you! I knew you could do it!!! 🎉❤️”
- “That’s so awesome to hear 🤩 You must be so relieved!”
- “Oh I’m so glad to hear that 😮‍💨”
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Come up with something fun to do or send a funny text. When your friend is dying of boredom, do your best to entertain them over text. Send a joke and lots of funny emojis, ask them a random question that’ll make them laugh, or come up with something fun you can do with them later.
- “Once you’re out of there we should totally go get coffee or something ☕️”
- “Here, I’ll tell you a joke. Knock knock 🚪🚪 (Who’s there?) Water 💦 (Water who?) Water you doing reading this?? Pay attention to your meeting!”
- “Do straws have one hole or two? 🤔🤨 There. Boredom solved.”

Section 3 of 3:

Emojis to Pair with 😮‍💨 (Sigh Emoji)

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Add the 😔 (sad pensive) emoji to express defeat. Like the 😮‍💨 (sigh) emoji, 😔 conveys disappointment. When you use both 😮‍💨 and 😔 in a text, it’s like you’re accepting defeat and acknowledging that there’s not much you can do about what happened.
- “My boss is making me work overtime. Guess I won’t be coming to your party 😔😮‍💨”
- “I guess my friend didn’t like the present I got him 😔😮‍💨 Oh well.”
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Use 😮 (open mouth) emoji to depict inhaling. When you pair 😮 with 😮‍💨, it looks like the emoji is inhaling and exhaling. Use this to remind someone to breathe when they’re upset, or guide them through some breathing exercises.
- “It’s going to be okay. Just breath. In 😮 and out 😮‍💨”
- “A good breathing exercise is to inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4, and exhale for 4 😮😮😮😮😐😐😐😐😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨”
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Pair 😮‍💨 with the 🎂 (birthday cake) emoji to blow out the candles. When someone sends you birthday wishes over text, send them back the emoji version of you blowing out your birthday candles to let them know that you appreciate their well wishes.
- “Thank you! 😮‍💨🎂 I wished for something really great just fyi.”
- “Wish you could be here to celebrate! But since you can’t, I’ll blow my candles out like this 😮‍💨🎂”