ventilate

[ ven-tl-eyt ]

See synonyms for: ventilate ventilated on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),ven·ti·lat·ed, ven·ti·lat·ing.

to provide (a room, mine, etc.) with fresh air in place of air that has been used or contaminated.
Medicine/Medical.
- to oxygenate (blood) by exposure to air in the lungs or gills.
- to assist the breathing of (a person), as with a respirator.

(of air or wind) to circulate through or blow on, so as to cool or freshen the air of: Cool breezes ventilated the house.
to expose to the action of air or wind: to ventilate floor timbers.
to submit (a question, problem, etc.) to open, full examination and discussion.
to give utterance or expression to (an opinion, complaint, etc.).
to furnish with a vent or opening, as for the escape of air or gas.

verb (used without object),ven·ti·lat·ed, ven·ti·lat·ing.

to give utterance or expression to one's emotions, opinions, complaints, etc.

Origin of ventilate

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English ventilatten “to blow (something) away,” from Latin ventilātus (past participle of ventilāre “to fan”), equivalent to vent(us) “wind” + -il- verb suffix (variant of -ul-, originally after derivatives of nouns ending in -ulus ) + -ātus suffix forming adjectives; see origin at -ule, -ate¹;cf. speculate, wind¹

Other words for ventilate

5	broadcast, publicize, circulate, report

See synonyms for ventilate on Thesaurus.com

Other words from ventilate

ven·ti·la·ble, adjective
o·ver·ven·ti·late, verb (used with object), o·ver·ven·ti·lat·ed, o·ver·ven·ti·lat·ing.
re·ven·ti·late, verb (used with object), re·ven·ti·lat·ed, re·ven·ti·lat·ing.
self-ven·ti·lat·ed, adjective
un·der·ven·ti·late, verb (used with object), un·der·ven·ti·lat·ed, un·der·ven·ti·lat·ing.
un·der·ven·ti·lat·ed, adjective
un·ven·ti·lat·ed, adjective
well-ven·ti·lat·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use ventilate in a sentence

You must have your rooms well ventilated if you wish to avoid fainting and discomfort.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness | Florence Hartley
It was hardly necessary that he should disturb himself at last to come and tell us such well-ventilated news.
The Prime Minister | Anthony Trollope
Yes, he was well ventilated around his ankles, and not having any more socks to his feet he was going to be quite cool.
Where the Pavement Ends | John Russell
The rooms, as a rule, were well ventilated and the air fresh when one came into them.
Making Both Ends Meet | Sue Ainslie Clark and Edith Wyatt
Had the apartment been well ventilated the so-called chill would never have occurred.
Nervous Breakdowns and How to Avoid Them | Charles David Musgrove

British Dictionary definitions for ventilate

ventilate

/ (ˈvɛntɪˌleɪt) /

verb(tr)

to drive foul air out of (an enclosed area)
to provide with a means of airing

to expose (a question, grievance, etc) to public examination or discussion
physiol to oxygenate (the blood) in the capillaries of the lungs
to winnow (grain)

Origin of ventilate

C15: from Latin ventilāre to fan, from ventulus diminutive of ventus wind

Derived forms of ventilate

ventilable, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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