ventilate

UK: /ˈvɛntɪleɪt/ US: /ˈvɛntəˌleɪt/ ,(ven′tl āt′)

Inflections of 'ventilate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

ventilates

v 3rd person singular

ventilating

v pres p

ventilated

v past

ventilated

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ven•ti•late /ˈvɛntəˌleɪt/   v. [~ + object] , -lat•ed, -lat•ing. 

1. to provide (a room, mine, etc.) with fresh air.
2. to express or give expression to so as to enable open, full examination and discussion:
   to ventilate the issue before a committee.

ven•ti•la•tion /ˌvɛntəˈleɪʃən/  n. [uncountable]
ven•ti•la•tor, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ven•ti•late  (ven′tl āt′), v.t., -lat•ed, -lat•ing. 

1. to provide (a room, mine, etc.) with fresh air in place of air that has been used or contaminated.
2. Medicine
   • to oxygenate (blood) by exposure to air in the lungs or gills.
   • to assist the breathing of (a person), as with a respirator.
3. (of air or wind) to circulate through or blow on, so as to cool or freshen the air of:
   Cool breezes ventilated the house.
4. to expose to the action of air or wind:
   to ventilate floor timbers.
5. to submit (a question, problem, etc.) to open, full examination and discussion.
6. to give utterance or expression to (an opinion, complaint, etc.).
7. Building to furnish with a vent or opening, as for the escape of air or gas.

v.i. 

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

• Latin ventilātus (past participle of ventilāre to fan), equivalent. to vent(us) wind¹ + -il- verb, verbal suffix (variant of -ul-, origin, originally after derivs. of nouns ending in -ulus -ule; compare speculate) + -ātus -ate¹
• late Middle English ventilatten to blow (something) away 1400–50

ven′ti•la•ble, adj. 
Synonyms

• 5. broadcast, publicize, circulate, report.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

ventilate / ˈvɛntɪˌleɪt/ verb (transitive)

1. to drive foul air out of (an enclosed area)
2. to provide with a means of airing
3. to expose (a question, grievance, etc) to public examination or discussion
4. to oxygenate (the blood) in the capillaries of the lungs
5. to winnow (grain)

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin ventilāre to fan, from ventulus diminutive of ventus wind

ˈventilable adjective