vent

1 of 3

verb

ˈvent 

vented; venting; vents

transitive verb

1

: to provide with a vent

2

a

: to serve as a vent for

chimneys vent smoke

b

: discharge, expel

c

: to give often vigorous or emotional expression to

vented her frustration on her coworkers

3

: to relieve by means of a vent

vented himself in a fiery letter to the editor

intransitive verb

: to relieve oneself by venting something (such as anger)

comes home from work and vents to the kids

vent

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

: an opening for the escape of a gas or liquid or for the relief of pressure: such as

a

: the external opening of the rectum or cloaca : anus

b(1)

: pipe sense 3c, fumarole

(2)

: hydrothermal vent

c

: an opening at the breech of a muzzle-loading gun through which fire is touched to the powder

d

chiefly Scotland : chimney, flue

2

: an opportunity or means of escape, passage, or release : outlet

finally gave vent to his pent-up hostility

vent

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a slit in a garment

specifically : an opening in the lower part of a seam (as of a jacket or skirt)

Synonyms

Verb

• loose
• release
• take out
• unleash

Choose the Right Synonym for vent

express, vent, utter, voice, broach, air mean to make known what one thinks or feels.

express suggests an impulse to reveal in words, gestures, actions, or what one creates or produces.

expressed her feelings in music

vent stresses a strong inner compulsion to express especially in words.

a tirade venting his frustration

utter implies the use of the voice not necessarily in articulate speech.

utter a groan

voice does not necessarily imply vocal utterance but does imply expression or formulation in words.

an editorial voicing their concerns

broach adds the implication of disclosing for the first time something long thought over or reserved for a suitable occasion.

broached the subject of a divorce

air implies an exposing or parading of one's views often in order to gain relief or sympathy or attention.

publicly airing their differences

Examples of vent in a Sentence

Verb

Windows should be opened to vent the fumes.

She vented her frustrations by kicking the car.

Don't vent your anger on me.

I screamed because I needed to vent.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The Teen Mom: The Next Chapter star, 32, shared an Instagram Story on Thursday, May 9, venting about a situation between herself and husband Tyler Baltierra, and the parents of daughter Carly. —Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 10 May 2024

But its primary subject is how Black people have used the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, now X, as a means of communal expression, a way to laugh, cry, vent and shrug at the absurdities of everyday life in the 21st century. —Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2024

Questlove took to Instagram to vent his disappointment at the ongoing feud, which produced a series of withering, downright volatile diss tracks over the last few days. —Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 9 May 2024

And that’s only for the most effective hoods—the ones that vent gasses outside. —Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 3 May 2024

Friday’s news release comes as community members continue to vent frustrations over law enforcement’s investigation into Robinson’s death and efforts to locate all of her remains. —Lainey Seyler, Journal Sentinel, 3 May 2024

Eventually, after venting her frustrations, her brother and sister-in-law convinced her to rewrite the screenplay as a novel. —Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 May 2024

Quick Read Deep Read ( 6 Min. ) By Leonardo Bevilacqua Staff writer | New York At the iron gates to Columbia University on Saturday, pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside to vent their frustration. —Simon Montlake, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Apr. 2024

In 2011, Tim Gong, an SIG China managing director, vented about Mr. Zhang amid an apparent dispute over shares. —Lauren Hirsch, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024

Noun

Here’s how to find them Larger cameras are easy to spot, but anyone can easily hide smaller cameras behind furniture, vents, or decorations. —Kim Komando, USA TODAY, 9 May 2024

Many a Billboard staffer (and alumni) gathered at the bar to celebrate, commiserate, come up with ideas and vent while draining the bar of Prosecco and Goose Island. —Joe Lynch, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019

Homeowners who clean up flammable debris and vegetation from around their properties and have certain types of roofs, vents and windows on their homes, are supposed to be eligible for discounts. —Stephen Hobbs, Sacramento Bee, 1 Apr. 2024

Make sure your drapes or shades are not blocking vents, as that can restrict air circulation. —Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2024

The line of eruptive vents along the fissure at Sundhnúksgíga that formed starting March 16, 2024. —Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024

Some systems might include multiple vents containing a filter, so be sure to wash them all. —Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Mar. 2024

During the storm, be sure all exhaust vents around your home are clear from debris and snow. —Nicholas Merianos, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2024

The head of the National Transportation Safety Board said recently that her agency’s investigation showed that the vent and burn of the vinyl chloride was unnecessary because the company that produced that chemical was sure no dangerous chemical reaction was happening inside the tank cars. —Josh Funk, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English venten "to provide with an air hole," in part verbal derivative of vent "anus, outlet, vent entry 2," in part short for aventen "to cool (oneself, as by removing a helmet), release, let air out of," borrowed from Anglo-French aventer "to allow to escape, release, fan," probably altered by vowel reduction from Old French esventer "to fan, cool by stirring the air," going back to Vulgar Latin *exventāre, from Latin ex- ex- entry 1 + -ventāre, verbal derivative of ventus "wind" — more at wind entry 1

Noun (1)

Middle English, "anus, outlet," probably borrowed from Anglo-French, "wind, cold air, draft, outlet" (continental Old French, "wind"), going back to Latin ventus "wind" — more at wind entry 1

Noun (2)

Middle English vent, fente, borrowed from Anglo-French fente "split, crack, opening," derivative of fendre "to split" (going back to Latin findere), probaby by analogy with pairs such as rendre "to yield," rente "income" — more at bite entry 1, render entry 1, rent entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing vent

• give full vent to
• give vent to
• hydrothermal vent
• vent one's spleen
• vol-au-vent

Kids Definition

vent

1 of 3 verb

ˈvent 

1

a

: to provide with an outlet

b

: to serve as an outlet for

chimneys vent smoke

2

: to give expression to

vented her frustration on her sister

vent

2 of 3 noun

1

: an opening (as a flue) for the escape of a gas or liquid or for the relief of pressure

2

: an opportunity or means of release : outlet

his writing gives vent to his pent-up feelings

vent

3 of 3 noun

: an opening in the lower part of a seam (as of a jacket or skirt)

Medical Definition

vent

noun

ˈvent 

: an opening for the escape of a gas or liquid or for the relief of pressure

especially : the external opening of the rectum or cloaca : anus