hyperventilate

American  

[hahy-per-ven-tl-eyt] / ˌhaɪ pərˈvɛn tlˌeɪt /

verb (used without object)

hyperventilated, hyperventilating

1. to be afflicted with hyperventilation; breathe abnormally fast and deep.

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verb (used with object)

hyperventilated, hyperventilating

1. to cause (a patient) to breathe more rapidly and deeply than normal.

hyperventilate British  

/ ˌhaɪpəˈvɛntɪleɪt /

verb

1. (intr) to breathe in an abnormally deep, long, and rapid manner, sometimes resulting in cramp and dizziness

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Etymology

Origin of hyperventilate

First recorded in 1930–35; back formation from hyperventilation

Explanation

To hyperventilate is to breathe so unusually fast that you feel dizzy or panicked. You might hyperventilate after exercising too hard on a hot day, or because you're anxious about speaking in front of a crowd. When you hyperventilate, your body starts to lose carbon dioxide much faster than normal. This is what causes wooziness or even fainting in people who hyperventilate. There are many reasons for this rapid breathing, including being at a very high altitude, reacting badly to a medication, or just feeling very fearful. Hyperventilate combines the Greek hyper-, "over" or "beyond," and ventilate, from the Latin ventilare, "fan" or "agitate."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hyperventilate hyperventilated hyperventilating

Before some of you hyperventilate, that huge agenda is not what Andy Burnham is likely to argue for on day one.

From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026

Charlotte advises me to breathe deeply and try not to hyperventilate.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 7, 2025

On the flight to Guadalajara, Negrete’s heart raced and he began to hyperventilate.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2025

Your body spasms and you start to hyperventilate.

From New York Times ● Feb. 17, 2024

Where other people may hyperventilate or feel faint when having a panic attack, my anxiety essentially caused high levels of tiredness, leaving me feeling incredibly drained.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

About one-third of the fatigue patients hyperventilated, while just one person in the control group did.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 10, 2025

When Diggins won gold in South Korea, NBC’s announcer nearly hyperventilated on the air.

From New York Times ● Jan. 15, 2024

Spence got down on the floor, speaking calmly as the young woman hyperventilated.

From Washington Times ● Mar. 24, 2023

I haven’t mentioned Damien Chazelle’s “Babylon” yet, a hyperventilated ode to cinema undone by its director’s indulgence.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 20, 2023

Her chest expanded unnaturally, too quickly, and collapsed just as unnaturally as JoJo hyperventilated her.

From "Adrift" by Paul Griffin

Wall Street spent Monday hyperventilating about margin hikes on silver traders.

From MarketWatch ● Dec. 30, 2025

Those manic rushes of major-chord euphoria in their hyperventilating crime movies “Good Time” and “Uncut Gems” are by Lopatin.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 8, 2025

If you’re hyperventilating at this point, calm down.

From Slate ● Nov. 24, 2025

Everyone else’s alarm may be reflected in Alicent’s quiet hyperventilating with her eyes frozen wide with horror and disillusionment as she finally grasps her total powerlessness.

From Salon ● Jul. 18, 2024

Holly is all red and practically hyperventilating and both Nellie Abbott and Taylor Dixwell have their hands up like lions all ready for that giraffe.

From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden