Meaning & use
Hyperventilate
Last updated
To breathe abnormally fast or deeply, often causing dizziness or lightheadedness, or, figuratively, to react with excessive anxiety or panic.
See it in a sentence
She began to hyperventilate before her final exam and had to sit down and slow her breathing.
The pundits hyperventilated over the poll numbers instead of waiting for the actual results.
A note on using this word
Medically, hyperventilating lowers carbon dioxide levels in the blood, which is why it can cause tingling and lightheadedness.
Words with a similar meaning
overbreathepanic
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
calm down
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