ventilate

verb

ven·​ti·​late ˈven-tə-ˌlāt 

ventilated; ventilating

transitive verb

1

a

: to expose to air and especially to a current of fresh air for purifying, curing, or refreshing

ventilate stored grain

also : oxygenate, aerate

ventilate blood in the lungs

b

: to subject the lungs to ventilation

artificially ventilate a patient in respiratory distress

2

a

: to examine, discuss, or investigate freely and openly : expose

ventilating family quarrels in public

b

: to make public : utter

ventilated their objections at length

3

a

of a current of air : to pass or circulate through so as to freshen

b

: to cause fresh air to circulate through (a place, such as a room or a mine)

4

: to provide an opening in (a burning structure) to permit escape of smoke and heat

5

archaic : to free from chaff by winnowing

Synonyms of ventilate

• express
• voice
• give
• air
• vent

Examples of ventilate in a Sentence

She opened the windows to ventilate the room.

The room was adequately ventilated.

Recent Examples on the Web

Keep your bathroom ventilated, opening a window or running the fan during showers and for several minutes afterward. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 Mar. 2026

Crews shut the gas line down and ventilated the buildings. —CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026

The foam’s fine-cell structure also provides breathability and moisture control, so the mattress remains well-ventilated even when stored inside the cabinet. —Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 20 Feb. 2026

Another firefighter was on the first floor attempting to ventilate the building at the time of the explosion and was thrown against the wall, according to police. —Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "discussed, aired," borrowed from Latin ventilātus, past participle of ventilāre "to expose to the air, fan, expose to consideration," from ventus "wind" + -ilāre, verbal suffix, variant of -ulāre originally in derivatives of nouns ending in -ulus, -ula, -ulum -ule — more at wind entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Rhymes for ventilate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

Kids Definition

ventilate

verb

ven·​ti·​late ˈvent-ᵊl-ˌāt 

ventilated; ventilating

1

: to discuss freely and openly

ventilate a complaint

2

a

: to expose to air and especially to a current of fresh air

ventilate stored grain

b

: to provide with ventilation

ventilate a room with fans

Medical Definition

ventilate

transitive verb

ven·​ti·​late ˈvent-ᵊl-ˌāt 

ventilated; ventilating

1

: to expose to air and especially to a current of fresh air for purifying or refreshing

2

a

: oxygenate, aerate

ventilate blood in the lungs

b

: to subject the lungs of (an individual) to ventilation

artificially ventilate a patient in respiratory distress

3

: to give verbal expression to (as mental or emotional conflicts)