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to air

to air

46 3.7
To express an opinion or complaint publicly
  • verb
  • /ɛr/
translation icon : expresar
  • At the meeting, she decided to air her concerns about the new policy openly.
  • air grievances
  • air dirty laundry
  • air concerns

Any last comments, parting thoughts, complaints that you'd like to air publicly?

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Examples

  • The site-based team members came together to air their perspectives, beliefs, and feelings.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Rie's father responded by threatening to sue and publicly air the dispute in the media.

    Academic text (2013)
  • We'll air our favorite comments and tips on the next episode.

  • We're here so we can air those kinds of thoughts.

  • For a lot of people, they, they air their grievances in the heat of the moment.

  • People come together, drink, fall in love, fall out of love, and air their grudges out.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • The subject of co-authorship was addressed during the conference call; concerns were aired, and agreement was reached.

    Academic text (1994)
  • Any last comments, parting thoughts, complaints that you'd like to air publicly?

  • Strangers felt they could confide in him, air their dreams, and relate their woes.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Although residents sometimes aired their grievances, they tolerated the plant's side effects because it kept the mines open.

    Academic text (2005)

Synonyms

to announce
vsto air
1.5

To tell people officially about something, often in public

is more personal, focused on airing opinions or complaints publicly
to speak out
vsto air
220 3.4

To say your opinion or feelings openly even when it is difficult

can be less personal, used for general public expression of information
to voice
vsto air
152 3.2

To say something aloud, especially an opinion or feeling

is broader, covers making facts or complaints known publicly
to publicize
vsto air
94 4.0

Make something known to many people using news or social media

is about sharing personal views or complaints publicly rather than general notice
to broadcast
vsto air
81 3.0

To make news or information known to many people

is narrower, focused on expressing opinions or complaints rather than mass distribution
to ventilate
vsto air
  • Formal
4 5.3

Express strong feelings or complaints openly

is broader, also used for making information known publicly

Antonyms

282 3.7

To hide something so others cannot see or find it

176 4.8

To stop public protest by force or by people in power

Idioms

124 3.7

A feeling many people notice, like excitement or joy, that something will happen

43 3.6

Broadcasting live on radio or television for the public

31 4.7

Not yet decided or settled

26 6.3

Disappear completely with no trace left

Suddenly with no clear reason, like magic

20 3.2

A person or thing that brings a welcome change to a situation

A strong sound, smell, or feeling that people notice around them

hot air
  • Informal
17 5.3

Talk that sounds important but has no real meaning

on air
  • Informal
9 5.9

Feeling very happy and excited

To vanish suddenly with no trace

walking on air
  • Informal
1 3.7

Feeling very happy and excited

1 8.2

An idea or plan that is unrealistic and unlikely to happen

A strong feeling that people in a place notice and feel

To feel very happy and excited

8.4

To talk about private or embarrassing family matters in public

8.6

To talk about private, embarrassing problems in public

9.9

To use swear words, often when angry

Phrasal Verbs

To go outside to breathe fresh air after being inside for a while

to clear the air
  • Informal
24 4.1

Help people stop feeling angry or worried by talking about the problem

8 3.0

Open something so wind from outside moves through it to remove bad smells or moisture

to take the air
  • Archaic
2 3.5

To go outside for a short walk and fresh air

Stay in the air so people can still smell or notice it

Move gently through the air like a smell or sound

1 7.9

To jump high into the air while doing a sport or trick

to air-freight
  • Specialized
1 4.2

To send goods by plane for fast delivery

To go outside briefly to breathe and feel better

3.0

Send a program as it happens on radio or TV

6.8

To jump very high in sports like skiing, snowboarding, or skateboarding

Talk about a problem to make things clear and stop misunderstandings

to air paunch
  • Informal
9.9

To show your stomach in a funny or relaxed way

Make the air in a room smell cleaner or nicer

To breathe quickly and loudly after hard exercise

Compounds

637 2.8

A branch of a country's military that uses planes to fight and protect the country

143 1.0

Clean outdoor air that feels refreshing and healthy

System that controls temperature and air movement inside buildings to keep people comfortable

75 3.0

Planes moving in the sky in one area at one time

air power
  • Specialized
65 4.0

Military strength a country has from its planes

A machine that cools and removes water from the air in a room or building

thin air
  • Informal
45 5.3

A place where something disappears suddenly and cannot be found

35 4.1

Aircraft that help soldiers on the ground during fighting

32 4.2

A sudden attack by military planes that drop bombs and shoot at the ground

air defense
  • Specialized
30 4.2

Systems and weapons that protect a place from enemy aircraft or missiles

28 2.0

Travel by plane to move people or goods

air base
  • Specialized
26 3.3

A military place where people keep, fix, and fly planes and helicopters

surface-to-air
  • Specialized
26 6.6

A weapon launched from the ground to hit targets in the air

26 2.6

Harmful gases, smoke, and small particles in the air that can damage health or nature

19 6.3

A weapon launched from the ground or a ship to destroy aircraft in the sky

air pressure
  • Specialized
18 2.2

The weight of the air pushing down on a surface

17 2.7

The part of the United States military that flies planes and defends the country in the air and space

A large bag filled with hot air that lifts people in a basket

A branch of the United States military that fights in the air and space

13 3.7

An attack by military planes on the enemy

13 2.8

A channel like a pipe that moves air to bring fresh air into buildings

13 2.1

Warm air that rises when it is heated

A school that trains people to be officers in an air force

11 2.1

Taking place outside and not under a roof

10 2.0

A flat mattress you fill with air for sleeping

compressed air
  • Specialized
9 3.7

Air kept at higher pressure than normal and used to power tools

air cover
  • Jargon
9 5.0

Military aircraft protect soldiers or ships from enemy attack during an operation

8 1.9

A small pocket of air trapped inside a liquid or solid

8 2.8

A machine that removes dust and small particles from the air as it passes through

8 1.0

Outside in a place that is not covered

7 4.9

A government officer who travels as a passenger to protect people on planes from hijacking

air pocket
  • Specialized
7 5.3

A sudden drop of a plane caused by a small area of falling air

6 4.7

A vertical passage in a building or mine that lets air move through spaces

air lock
  • Specialized
5 5.6

A chamber that lets people move between places with different air pressure while preventing air mixing

A reserve force of civilian volunteers who support the United States Air Force in war and emergencies

5 2.3

A person who travels by plane

dead air
  • Literature
5 6.3

A short, unplanned silence during a radio or TV broadcast

air bag
  • Specialized
5 2.8

A safety cushion inside a car that fills with air quickly during a crash to protect people

air-to-air
  • Specialized
4 5.8

Used by one plane to aim at or talk to another plane in the air

A branch of the United States military that uses planes and works in space to defend the country

Air Corps
  • Archaic
4 6.8

A former part of the United States Army that flew military planes before the Air Force existed

4 3.3

A movement of air from one place to another

4 2.7

A flexible tube that carries air under pressure to inflate tires or power tools

3 3.7

A gun that uses compressed air to fire small pellets

3 3.5

The United Kingdom's military force that uses planes

air mass
  • Specialized
3 3.4

A large area of air with about the same temperature, humidity, and pressure

3 4.2

A military base where planes are kept, fixed, and flown

3 3.0

People who work on a plane during a flight, like pilots and cabin staff

3 1.9

A tool that moves air into or out of objects such as tires and balls

The movement of people or goods by plane

The movement of people or goods by plane

A machine that pushes air to a higher pressure to power tools or inflate things

A strong place, often underground, that protects people from bombs

air-intake
  • Specialized
2 3.9

A part that lets air enter an engine or machine

A machine that cools and dries the air in a room or building

air-cooled
  • Specialized
2 4.1

Cooled by air instead of by water

air-to-air missile
  • Specialized
2 5.3

A weapon that one plane fires to destroy another plane in the air

air-to-ground
  • Specialized
2 4.7

Used from a plane to attack or send messages to targets on the ground

A market that takes place outdoors where stalls sell food and other goods

2 2.8

Air that smells old and feels heavy

1 3.4

A machine with a filter that removes dust and small particles from the air

air passage
  • Specialized
1 3.5

A channel that moves air in or out of places like buildings and mines

1 3.1

A device that shoots small pellets using compressed air instead of gunpowder

1 6.2

A United States military medal given for brave or very good actions during flying missions

air unit
  • Specialized
1 4.8

A group in an air force that uses aircraft for missions

1 3.2

A feeling of sickness and dizziness during a plane flight

lighter-than-air
  • Specialized
1 6.8

Able to rise and float in the air like a balloon or airship

air embolism
  • Specialized
1 6.0

Bubbles of air in the blood that block blood flow and can cause serious harm

air hostess
  • Archaic
1 2.2

A woman who looks after passengers on a plane

air mile
  • Specialized
1 3.2

A unit of distance used in flying that equals 1,852 meters

air rage
  • Literature
1 7.4

Violent or angry actions by passengers on a plane because they feel stressed and frustrated

1 3.0

Completely sealed so no air can get in or out

fuel-air explosive
  • Specialized
1 7.3

A weapon that sprays fuel into the air and then sets it on fire to make a very strong blast

How Public

to announce
1.5
to air
46 3.7
mention
220 2.5

Surface Forms

air infinitive
aired past
aired past participle
airing present participle
airs third person singular

Etymology

To air an opinion is like putting it out into the open air so others can hear or see it; think of 'airing' a view in public so it is no longer hidden.