noun

vent

vehnt

noun

An opening that allows air, gas, or smoke to pass through or escape.

"Warm air came up through the floor vent."

"The volcano has several vents that release sulphurous gas."

An outlet for expressing pent-up feelings, especially frustration.

"Writing in her journal gave her a vent for all the day's stress."

verb

To let out strong emotion, often by talking about it at length.

"He called his brother just to vent about work."

"She needed to vent after the meeting went so badly."

To allow gas or air to escape from an enclosed space.

"The engineers vented the pressurised tank before opening it."

How to Use Vent

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn opening that lets something escape, or the act of letting out gas — or emotion.

Common mistake

When used for emotions, "vent" doesn't need an object — "I just need to vent" works fine without saying vent what.

Common pairings

vent your frustration air vent vent about something give vent to

Word Forms

vented past tense, vented past tense, vented past tense, vents plural, vents plural, vents plural, Vents plural, vents singular, vents singular, vents singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Warm air came up through the floor _____.

Etymology

Partly from Middle French vent ("wind"), from Latin ventus, and partly from French éventer. A doublet of "wind" (the noun).

Rhymes for vent

ent bent went sent rent dent gent tent Kent pent Lent spent

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