What does hyperventilate mean?
Hyperventilate is a verb that means to breathe rapidly and deeply, typically because of anxiety, panic, or overexertion. This can be a medical condition where a person's breathing becomes rapid and shallow, leading to dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting. In everyday language, hyperventilate can also describe someone who is feeling anxious or overwhelmed. The word is often used in medical contexts, but it can also be used in a more general sense to describe someone who is feeling stressed or panicked. Hyperventilate is a useful word to know because it can help describe a range of emotions and physical sensations. It is also an interesting word because it highlights the importance of breathing and how it can affect our physical and emotional well-being.
verbTo breathe rapidly and deeply, typically because of anxiety, panic, or overexertion.
- To breathe rapidly and deeply, typically because of anxiety, panic, or overexertion.
"She began to hyperventilate during the intense argument."
"She began to hyperventilate during the intense argument."
"The athlete hyperventilated after sprinting up the steep hill."
The plural form is used to describe multiple people or instances of hyperventilating.
"The athletes hyperventilated after sprinting up the steep hill."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of hyperventilate
The word hyperventilate comes from the prefix 'hyper-' meaning 'excessive' and the verb 'ventilate' meaning 'to breathe'. The word has been in use since the late 19th century and is derived from the Latin words 'hyper' and 'ventilare'.
Usage notes
Hyperventilate is often used in medical contexts to describe a condition where a person's breathing becomes rapid and shallow, leading to dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting. It can also be used in everyday language to describe someone who is feeling anxious or overwhelmed.