hyperventilation

noun

hy·​per·​ven·​ti·​la·​tion ˌhī-pər-ˌven-tə-ˈlā-shən 

: excessive rate and depth of respiration leading to abnormal loss of carbon dioxide from the blood

Examples of hyperventilation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The hyperventilation can cause lightheadedness and in rare cases loss of consciousness, which has contributed to drowning deaths. —Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026

The breathing conditions are (1) cyclic sighing, which emphasizes prolonged exhalations; (2) box breathing, which is equal duration of inhalations, breath retentions, and exhalations; and (3) cyclic hyperventilation with retention, with longer inhalations and shorter exhalations. —Gerald J. Leonard, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026

This is not hyperbole or hyperventilation. —James Speyer, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026

Perhaps tearing originally grew out of a physiological reflex that restored moisture to the eyes and nasal passages after they had been dried out by the pressure of wincing or the hyperventilation of arousal. —Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hyperventilation

• acclimatisation
• acclimatization
• acidification
• actualization
• annualization
• autocorrelation
• autoregulation
• beatification
• beneficiation
• biodegradation
• biotransformation
• bureaucratization

Kids Definition

hyperventilation

noun

hy·​per·​ven·​ti·​la·​tion ˌhī-pər-ˌvent-ᵊl-ˈā-shən 

: breathing that is very fast and deep and leads to abnormal loss of carbon dioxide from the blood

hyperventilate

-ˈvent-ᵊl-ˌāt

verb

Medical Definition

hyperventilation

noun

hy·​per·​ven·​ti·​la·​tion -ˌvent-ᵊl-ˈā-shən 

: excessive ventilation

specifically : excessive rate and depth of respiration leading to abnormal loss of carbon dioxide from the blood

called also overventilation