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

While the plane was able to safely land, and no one was seriously injured, 12 people went to the hospital and were treated for hyperventilation. —Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 9 June 2025

Mild anxiety or stress: Mild anxiety or stress can trigger the body's fight-or-flight response, leading to faster, shallower breathing (hyperventilation). —Emily Brown, Verywell Health, 14 May 2025

The breathy-stutter GOAT might be ASMR Ceri, whose videos verge on straight-up hyperventilation. —Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 12 Mar. 2025

This will help if your dizziness comes from hyperventilation or shortness of breath. —Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 21 Feb. 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