vent

¹ American  

[vent] / vɛnt /

noun

1. an opening, as in a wall, serving as an outlet for air, smoke, fumes, or the like.

2. an opening at the earth's surface from which volcanic material, as lava, steam, or gas, is emitted.

3. Zoology. the anal or excretory opening of animals, especially of those below mammals, as birds and reptiles.

4. the small opening at the breech of a gun by which fire is communicated to the charge.

5. a means of exit or escape; an outlet, as from confinement.

6. expression; utterance; release.

   to give vent to one's emotions.

7. Obsolete. the act or fact of venting; emission or discharge.

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verb (used with object)

1. to give free play or expression to (an emotion, passion, etc.).

   to vent rage.

2. to give public utterance to.

   to vent one's opinions.

3. to relieve by giving expression to something.

   He vented his disappointment by criticizing his successor.

4. to release or discharge (liquid, smoke, etc.).

5. to furnish or provide with a vent or vents.

verb (used without object)

1. to be relieved of pressure or discharged by means of a vent.

2. (of an otter or other animal) to rise to the surface of the water to breathe.

vent ² American  

[vent] / vɛnt /

noun

1. a slit in the back or side of a coat, jacket, or other garment, at the bottom part of a seam.

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vent ¹ British  

/ vɛnt /

noun

1. a small opening for the passage or escape of fumes, liquids, etc

2. the shaft of a volcano or an aperture in the earth's crust through which lava and gases erupt

3. the external opening of the urinary or genital systems of lower vertebrates

4. a small aperture at the breech of old guns through which the charge was ignited

5. an exit, escape, or passage

6. to release (an emotion, passion, idea, etc) in an utterance or outburst

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verb

1. to release or give expression or utterance to (an emotion, idea, etc)

   he vents his anger on his wife

2. to provide a vent for or make vents in

3. to let out (steam, liquid, etc) through a vent

vent ² British  

/ vɛnt /

noun

1. a vertical slit at the back or both sides of a jacket

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verb

1. (tr) to make a vent or vents in (a jacket)

vent Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing vent

• give vent to

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Other Word Forms

• unvented adjective
• venter noun
• ventless adjective

Etymology

Origin of vent¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb venten “to furnish (a vessel) with a vent,” by shortening of Old French esventer (equivalent to es- + -venter, verbal derivative of vent, from Latin ventus “wind”), in later use derivative of the English noun; the noun derives partly from French vent, partly by shortening of French évent ( Old French esvent, derivative of esventer ), and partly derivative of the English verb; ex- ¹, wind ¹

Origin of vent²

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English vent(e); replacing Middle English fente, from Old French or Middle French, derivative of fendre “to slit,” from Latin findere “to split”

Explanation

When you vent, you let something out, whether it's hot air or your feelings. If you vent your feelings, you let out a strong and sometimes angry emotion and just say what you think. You might vent your rage when your brother once again gets out of doing his chores. You also might vent something to air it out. If it's too hot inside your car, vent it by opening a window. The noun vent refers to a hole that lets air escape. A clothes dryer has a vent that sends hot air outside. A vent in nature is a crack in the earth's surface that lets hot gas and lava escape — like a volcano.

Example Sentences

"And now you get a hydrothermal vent system, just like in the deep sea, but made by the heat from an impact."

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

Participants vent, find reinforcement among like-minded people, and leave feeling heard and aligned.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

Before we get to the credit-card swapping issue, allow me to vent: If you have to put a total of $11,000 on two credit cards, you can’t afford the trip.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 18, 2026

He said that when life gets dark and challenging, Cris allows him to vent his frustrations.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026

There were vent pipes in the walls covered with wire mesh and there were drains in the floor.

From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy

Related Words

• chimney
• duct
• flue
• pipe
• ventilator