vent

9 synonyms and 4 antonyms for vent, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

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

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

opening release air

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

outlet volcano

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

air duct blowhole venthole ventilate

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

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

“Warm air came up through the floor vent.”

outlet opening air duct blowhole release venthole volcano

2. verb

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

“He called his brother just to vent about work.”

ventilate air

Opposites

restrain curb suppress

3. verb

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

“The engineers vented the pressurised tank before opening it.”

Opposites

contain

How to use vent

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

vent your frustration air vent vent about something give vent to

Etymology

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

Full origin of vent →

Frequently asked questions

What does “vent” mean?

The word “vent” means an opening that allows air, gas, or smoke to pass through or escape. In plain terms, an opening that lets something escape, or the act of letting out gas — or emotion.

How do you pronounce “vent”?

“Vent” is pronounced vehnt (/vɛnt/ in IPA).

How do you use “vent” in a sentence?

Here is “vent” used in a sentence: “Warm air came up through the floor vent.”

What part of speech is “vent”?

Depending on how it is used, “vent” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “vent” come from?

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

Is “vent” a common word?

“Vent” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “vent” have?

“Vent” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an opening that allows air, gas, or smoke to pass through or escape.

What is the difference between venting and complaining?

Venting refers to releasing pent-up emotion, often frustration, by talking about it at length, usually to feel better rather than to solve a problem. Complaining is more focused on expressing dissatisfaction about a specific issue, sometimes with the goal of seeking a change or resolution.

What does it mean to vent to someone?

To vent to someone means to talk to them about strong emotions, especially frustration or stress, as a way of releasing those feelings rather than necessarily seeking advice.

What is a vent in a physical or mechanical sense?

In this sense, a vent is an opening that allows air, gas, or smoke to pass through or escape from an enclosed space, such as a heating vent or a vent in a wall.

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air release opening contain outlet volcano curb suppress restrain ventilate blowhole venthole

Nearby words

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