vent

1 of 3

verb

ˈvent 

vented; venting; vents

transitive verb

1

: to provide with a vent

2

a

: to serve as a vent for

chimneys vent smoke

b

: discharge, expel

c

: to give often vigorous or emotional expression to

vented her frustration on her coworkers

3

: to relieve by means of a vent

vented himself in a fiery letter to the editor

intransitive verb

: to relieve oneself by venting something (such as anger)

comes home from work and vents to the kids

vent

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

: an opening for the escape of a gas or liquid or for the relief of pressure: such as

a

: the external opening of the rectum or cloaca : anus

b(1)

: pipe sense 3c, fumarole

(2)

: hydrothermal vent

c

: an opening at the breech of a muzzle-loading gun through which fire is touched to the powder

d

chiefly Scotland : chimney, flue

2

: an opportunity or means of escape, passage, or release : outlet

finally gave vent to his pent-up hostility

vent

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a slit in a garment

specifically : an opening in the lower part of a seam (as of a jacket or skirt)

Synonyms

Verb

• loose
• release
• take out
• unleash

Choose the Right Synonym for vent

express, vent, utter, voice, broach, air mean to make known what one thinks or feels.

express suggests an impulse to reveal in words, gestures, actions, or what one creates or produces.

expressed her feelings in music

vent stresses a strong inner compulsion to express especially in words.

a tirade venting his frustration

utter implies the use of the voice not necessarily in articulate speech.

utter a groan

voice does not necessarily imply vocal utterance but does imply expression or formulation in words.

an editorial voicing their concerns

broach adds the implication of disclosing for the first time something long thought over or reserved for a suitable occasion.

broached the subject of a divorce

air implies an exposing or parading of one's views often in order to gain relief or sympathy or attention.

publicly airing their differences

Examples of vent in a Sentence

Verb

Windows should be opened to vent the fumes.

She vented her frustrations by kicking the car.

Don't vent your anger on me.

I screamed because I needed to vent.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

After a shocking shooting, Americans vent feelings about health insurance (Dec. 6). —Bill Chappell, NPR, 20 Dec. 2024

Scenes in novels and TV shows where therapists just listen to clients vent, nod their heads in approval and mirror back the same words are stereotypes. —Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024

Noun

Put it in a location away from windows, doors, and vents. —Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Dec. 2024

The rocky roof above it—the ground within the caldera at the volcano's summit—now lacking supports suddenly collapses, quickly increasing the pressure in the reservoir and squeezing gas and bits of rubble through the vents in Kīlauea's crater. —David Bressan, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English venten "to provide with an air hole," in part verbal derivative of vent "anus, outlet, vent entry 2," in part short for aventen "to cool (oneself, as by removing a helmet), release, let air out of," borrowed from Anglo-French aventer "to allow to escape, release, fan," probably altered by vowel reduction from Old French esventer "to fan, cool by stirring the air," going back to Vulgar Latin *exventāre, from Latin ex- ex- entry 1 + -ventāre, verbal derivative of ventus "wind" — more at wind entry 1

Noun (1)

Middle English, "anus, outlet," probably borrowed from Anglo-French, "wind, cold air, draft, outlet" (continental Old French, "wind"), going back to Latin ventus "wind" — more at wind entry 1

Noun (2)

Middle English vent, fente, borrowed from Anglo-French fente "split, crack, opening," derivative of fendre "to split" (going back to Latin findere), probaby by analogy with pairs such as rendre "to yield," rente "income" — more at bite entry 1, render entry 1, rent entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing vent

• give full vent to
• give vent to
• hydrothermal vent
• vent one's spleen
• vol-au-vent

Kids Definition

vent

1 of 3 verb

ˈvent 

1

a

: to provide with an outlet

b

: to serve as an outlet for

chimneys vent smoke

2

: to give expression to

vented her frustration on her sister

vent

2 of 3 noun

1

: an opening (as a flue) for the escape of a gas or liquid or for the relief of pressure

2

: an opportunity or means of release : outlet

his writing gives vent to his pent-up feelings

vent

3 of 3 noun

: an opening in the lower part of a seam (as of a jacket or skirt)

Medical Definition

vent

noun

ˈvent 

: an opening for the escape of a gas or liquid or for the relief of pressure

especially : the external opening of the rectum or cloaca : anus