hyperventilation

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

Definition of hyperventilation

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

Recent Examples of hyperventilation from the Web

But another honorable function is to disentangle it from rapacious marketplace hyperventilation, so that it can be clearly seen.

— christopher knight, latimes.com, "MOCA still mum about curator's firing, despite crucial questions and too few answers," 20 Mar. 2018
And Link, to her credit and with great help from the honest Zacharias, avoids the trap of hyperventilation or bathos, into which movies based on Tolstoy often sink.

— chris jones, chicagotribune.com, "It's Monday. It's Rogers Park. And thanks to the strength of Chicago theater, it's time for 'Anna Karenina'," 2 Mar. 2018
And stress originates in the brain, where chemicals cause blood pressure to go up, and can trigger hyperventilation, said Judith Kupersmith, a professor of clinical psychiatry at Georgetown University School of Medicine.

— susan svrluga, Washington Post, "Neurologists explain how Olympic athletes’ brains help them pull off those McTwists and triple Lutzes," 23 Feb. 2018
Airsickness, hyperventilation, hypocapnia and spatial disorientation, when pilots can’t tell up from down, share some similarities with hypoxia. Capt.

— sig christenson, San Antonio Express-News, "Air Force might learn from oxygen problem in Navy trainers," 25 Feb. 2018
And stress originates in the brain, when chemicals cause blood pressure to go up, and can trigger hyperventilation, said Judith Kupersmith, a professor of clinical psychiatry at Georgetown University School of Medicine.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "Olympic athlete's brains play big role in those McTwists," 24 Feb. 2018
Asia’s sobs break into screams and hyperventilation.

— jeneé osterheldt, kansascity, "Don’t dare scoff: The cries we hear in Applebee’s video come from a legacy of pain," 14 Feb. 2018
Perhaps that sounds boring to you, so it’s high time for some hyperventilation.

— heather wilhelm, National Review, "Hapless in Democratland," 1 Feb. 2018
And then there was the hyperventilation online over Mr. Rubio’s sleek new boots — a $135, high-heeled, black leather pair of Florsheims given to him by his wife for Christmas.

— jeremy w. peters and michael barbaro, New York Times, "Boots? Marco Rubio Wants to Talk Guns and Football," 18 Jan. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hyperventilation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of hyperventilation

1928

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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Medical Dictionary

hyperventilation

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

medical Definition of hyperventilation

: excessive ventilation; specifically : excessive rate and depth of respiration leading to abnormal loss of carbon dioxide from the blood — called also overventilation