# vent

/ˈvɛnt/ (US) · /vˈɛnt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/vent
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. an air opening

noun · CEFR B2

a hole or pipe that lets air, gas, or smoke out of a room or machine.

For teachers: an opening or duct designed to allow the escape of gases, liquids, or air from a confined space.

- The kitchen vent was clogged with dust, so the room stayed smoky while I cooked.
- Engineers installed a sophisticated filtration system behind the main exhaust vent to ensure no toxic fumes escaped into the residential area.

### 2. expressing feelings

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

an occasion where you talk a lot to express your anger or frustration.

For teachers: the act of expressing strong, often pent-up emotions or grievances.

- I just needed a quick vent about my difficult day at the office.
- The meeting served as a necessary vent for the staff's frustrations regarding the recent budget cuts.

### 3. clothing slit

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a small cut or opening in the bottom of a jacket or skirt to help you move easily.

For teachers: a vertical slit in the seam of a garment, typically at the back of a jacket or the side of a skirt.

- The tailor suggested adding a double vent to the back of the suit jacket.
- A single central vent provides enough flexibility for movement while maintaining the slim silhouette of the blazer.

### 4. to express emotion

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to talk about your strong feelings, like anger or sadness, to feel better.

For teachers: to give forceful expression to a strong emotion or grievance. Often used intransitively when speaking to a sympathetic listener.

- Thank you for listening; I really needed to vent about my boss.
- He spent the entire evening venting his frustrations about the project's failure to anyone who would listen.

### 5. to release gas

verb · CEFR B2

to let gas or steam escape from a container.

For teachers: to allow the escape of a gas or liquid through an aperture, often to relieve pressure.

- The pressure cooker will vent steam once the water starts to boil.
- The safety valve is designed to vent excess pressure automatically if the internal temperature exceeds the safety threshold.

### 6. medical ventilation

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical · Informal

to use a machine to help a patient breathe.

For teachers: to provide artificial respiration for a patient using a mechanical ventilator.

- The doctors decided to vent the patient because his oxygen levels were too low.
- The clinical team had to vent the trauma victim immediately upon arrival to stabilize his respiratory function.

Usage: Commonly used as a shortened jargon form of 'ventilate' in clinical settings.

## Examples

- I just need to vent about my bad day at work.
- She called her best friend to vent after the meeting left her feeling frustrated and ignored.
- While it can be cathartic to vent to a trusted colleague, doing so too frequently in a professional setting may inadvertently damage one's reputation for emotional resilience.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.