ventilate

verb

ven·​ti·​late ˈven-tə-ˌlāt How to pronounce ventilate (audio)
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

Examples of ventilate in a Sentence

She opened the windows to ventilate the room. The room was adequately ventilated.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Crews attacked the fire from the outside and truck units ventilated the roof, while teams searched unaffected areas for occupants and fire, officials said. City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 July 2025 Make sure basements and crawlspaces are ventilated properly to reduce moisture buildup. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 30 June 2025 Strategically ventilated and sculpted for compression in the right places, it’s designed to help Kipyegon conserve energy at 15 mph over four punishing laps. Gillian Oakenfull, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025 Ladder trucks were used to ventilate smoke and provide aerial access to the structure. Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for ventilate

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of ventilate was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ventilate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ventilate. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

ventilate

verb
ven·​ti·​late ˈvent-ᵊl-ˌāt How to pronounce ventilate (audio)
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 How to pronounce ventilate (audio)
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)

More from Merriam-Webster on ventilate

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