noun
Uncommon
vent
vehnt
Vent (noun) means an opening that allows air, gas, or smoke to pass through or escape. Example: “Warm air came up through the floor vent.”
noun
1
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."
"Steam escaped through a small vent in the kitchen wall."
2
An outlet for expressing pent-up feelings, especially frustration.
"Writing in her journal gave her a vent for all the day's stress."
"Playing football every weekend was a healthy vent for his frustration at work."
"The online forum became a vent for parents worn out by sleepless nights."
verb
1
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."
"Sometimes I just want you to listen while I vent about my day."
2
To allow gas or air to escape from an enclosed space.
"The engineers vented the pressurised tank before opening it."
"Open the window to vent the fumes from the paint."
"The boiler vents steam through a pipe on the outside wall."
How to use vent
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- vents
- Third person singular
- vents
- Past tense
- vented
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).
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for vent
See all rhymes for 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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