From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishshallow breathingshallow breathingBREATHEbreathing that takes in only small amounts of air OPP deep → shallow
Examples from the Corpus
shallow breathing• If there is severe difficulty in breathing - shortness of breath, wheezing, laboured, rapid or shallow breathing.• Ursula Dean's palms were damp as panic pumped through her, escaping in hasty, shallow breathing and agitated heartbeats.• Holding your breath builds up tension and shallow breathing denies your body the oxygen it needs to function at maximum efficiency.• This might be a typical presentation of acute hyperventilation caused by rapid shallow breathing during moments of high anxiety.• After recovering from an attack of shallow breathing he recovered and one nurse said he was smiling and cooing in his cot.• Jezrael's heart beat faster but she forced herself to slow the shallow breathing of panic. 