hyperventilate

verb

hy·​per·​ven·​ti·​late ˌhī-pər-ˈven-tə-ˌlāt How to pronounce hyperventilate (audio)
hyperventilated; hyperventilating; hyperventilates

intransitive verb

: to breathe rapidly and deeply : undergo hyperventilation

Did you know?

Hyperventilating can be a response to fear and anxiety. A test pilot who panics and hyperventilates faces a dangerous situation. When the level of carbon dioxide in your blood goes down and the oxygen level goes up, blood vessels constrict because of the chemical changes and the body can't get enough oxygen (even though it's there in the blood), and the pilot can become lightheaded and may even faint. To guard against this, pilots are taught to control their breathing. On the ground, the usual remedy for hyperventilation is breathing into a paper bag, which raises the level of carbon dioxide and restores normal breathing.

Examples of hyperventilate in a Sentence

The boy panicked and began hyperventilating. he was so nervous he began hyperventilating, and the extra oxygen made him dizzy
Recent Examples on the Web The 38-year-old gunman, who was hyperventilating, and the two hostages were taken to area hospitals for examination, just to be on the safe side, cops said. Bob Kappstatter, New York Daily News, 9 June 2024 The Democratic hand-wringing may have elevated to hyperventilating with the release of a couple of late-December surveys. Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Feb. 2024 But sometimes, a series will sneak through that offers more than titillation, cheap thrills, and hyperventilating aesthetics. Chris Vognar, Rolling Stone, 20 Jan. 2024 At points, his crackling prose froths over into hyperventilating superfan’s rants—an approach that befits a band with such a passionate following. Saby Reyes-Kulkarni, SPIN, 20 Dec. 2023 See all Example Sentences for hyperventilate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hyperventilate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hyperventilate was in 1931

Dictionary Entries Near hyperventilate

Cite this Entry

“Hyperventilate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hyperventilate. Accessed 2 Jul. 2024.

Medical Definition

hyperventilate

verb
hy·​per·​ven·​ti·​late -ˈvent-ᵊl-ˌāt How to pronounce hyperventilate (audio)
hyperventilated; hyperventilating

intransitive verb

: to breathe rapidly and deeply : undergo hyperventilation
some swimmers hyperventilate

transitive verb

: to subject to hyperventilation
he hyperventilated his lungs by deep breathing
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!