Meaning & use
vents
Last updated
“vents” is a form of “vent”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplural
openings that let air, gas, or smoke go in or out of a closed space.
Grammar: Plural of 'vent'; use it for more than one opening or for openings in general.
Patterns
- air vents
- heating vents
- blocked vents
Make sure the air vents in the room are not blocked.
The building has vents on the roof to let hot air escape.
Dust had collected around the heating vents.
nounplural
slits or openings at the bottom of a jacket or coat, or in a piece of clothing.
Grammar: Usually plural when talking about the feature on a garment.
Patterns
- a jacket with vents
- side vents
- back vents
The jacket has vents at the back so you can move easily.
He liked the suit because of its side vents.
Word forms
| singular | vent |
|---|
Common combinations
- air vents
- The air vents in the office were making a whistling sound.
- heating vents
- Warm air came out of the heating vents.
- blocked vents
- Blocked vents can cause the machine to overheat.
- side vents
- The jacket has side vents for comfort.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- vent verb
- To express strong feelings, especially anger, often by talking.
- ventilation noun
- The system or process of supplying fresh air to a space.
Commonly confused: vents or vets?
vents vs vets
'Vets' is the plural of 'vet' (a doctor for animals), while 'vents' are openings for air.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'vents' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Vents' are openings that let air pass, so air vents in the ceiling fits. The other options use 'vents' with meanings it does not have.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “vents”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.