Air that feels less dense or harder to breathe because of altitude or low pressure.
Examples
Climbers struggled to breathe in the thin air.
The thin air at high altitude made every step harder.
The engine performed poorly in the thin air of the mountains.
Visitors may need time to adjust to the thin air.
The thin air above the pass felt cold and dry.
Similar words
rarefied air
low-pressure air
high-altitude air
air with less oxygen
From no clear source
everyday
neutral
Used in the phrase out of thin air to mean from no clear source, evidence, preparation, or material.
Examples
The rumor seemed to come out of thin air.
You cannot create money out of thin air.
The solution did not appear out of thin air.
He invented the excuse out of thin air.
The idea sounded as if it had come out of thin air.
Similar words
from nowhere
from nothing
without a source
from no clear cause
as if by magic
Disappear completely
everyday
neutral
Used in the phrase into thin air to mean completely or mysteriously gone.
Examples
The witness seemed to vanish into thin air.
My keys disappeared into thin air.
The magician made the coin vanish into thin air.
The documents did not simply disappear into thin air.
By morning, the fog had vanished into thin air.
Similar words
disappear completely
vanish
disappear without a trace
evaporate
be gone
Etymology
The phrase combines thin, meaning not dense or sparse, with air. The idioms use the image of empty air so slight that something seems to appear or disappear without a visible source.
FAQ
What does thin air mean?
Literally, it can mean less dense air, especially at high altitude.
What does out of thin air mean?
It means from nowhere or with no clear source, evidence, or material.
What does vanish into thin air mean?
It means disappear completely or mysteriously.
Does thin air mean dirty air?
No. Dirty air is polluted air. Thin air is less dense air.
Which preposition goes with disappear?
The normal phrase is disappear into thin air or vanish into thin air.
What is a synonym for out of thin air?
Synonyms include from nowhere, from nothing, without a source, and as if by magic.
How do you use thin air in a sentence?
For example: Climbers struggled to breathe in the thin air.
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