pent-up

American  

[pent-uhp] / ˈpɛntˈʌp /

adjective

1. not vented or expressed; held inside; restrained; curbed.

   pent-up emotions;

   pent-up rage.

   Synonyms:

   suppressed, repressed, confined

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pent-up British  

adjective

1. not released; repressed

   pent-up emotions

2. kept unwillingly

   I've been pent up in this office for over a year

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Usage

What does pent-up mean? Pent-up is used to describe something that is repressed or not expressed, such as feelings, as in Tina had a lot of pent-up anger over her parents’ divorce that she did not know how to express.Pent-up also describes something that has not been vented, like a gas, which causes pressure to build, as in Tremors release pent-up energy beneath the earth’s crust.Example: All this pent-up anger is bad for your mental health.

Etymology

Origin of pent-up

First recorded in 1705–15; adjective use of verb phrase pent up

Example Sentences

In general, mortgage brokers have suggested there is some pent-up demand among potential buyers who were waiting for the Budget and the festive period to be over before making firm plans to move.

From BBC

“We feel there might have been tax-loss harvesting occurring and now that this is behind us, we see some pent-up buying,” Buchanan said in a phone interview.

From MarketWatch

“After multiple years of a near-absence in VC-backed IPOs, pent-up demand for new stocks has enticed more companies to come to market, and signs point to more activity in 2026,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Companies delayed hiring and investment decisions last year amid tariffs and policy uncertainty, creating pent-up demand that could be released all at once.

From Barron's

"A lot of pent-up emotion came out on the 18th green. A moment like that makes all the years and all the close calls worth it," said McIlroy.

From BBC

Related Words

• repressed
• stifled
• suppressed