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Glite Dictionary
to air out

to air out

8 3.0
Open something so wind from outside moves through it to remove bad smells or moisture
  • phrasal verb
  • /ɛr aʊt/
translation icon : ventilar
  • I'd like to let the place air out.
  • air out the house
  • air out the room
  • air out your bag

Examples

  • I'm sure it'll air out in time.

    Dream Scenario (2023)

  • Oh, it's just my band equipment, and I-I poked the holes so that... 'cause it gets smelly after practice so I want it to air out.

    Dog Days (2018)

  • I realize what is happening and run out the front door, staying there until he can air out the house.

    Blog text (19)

  • We, of course, had to leave the room till it aired out.

    Blog text (27)

  • As soon as the luncheon silver is clean, I want the guest rooms aired out.

    Dolores Claiborne (1995)

  • They were up at six every morning to air out their sheets and fold them.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • They plugged in large window fans and blew the stale air out.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • I opened the windows to air out the house after cooking dinner.

  • It's a good idea to air out your clothes after a long trip to remove any musty odors.

  • Before storing the blankets, make sure to air out them in the sun for a few hours.

Synonyms

to freshen
vsto air out
70 2.7

Make something or yourself smell and feel clean

is specifically about removing bad smells or dampness from things
to vent
vsto air out
26 3.8

To let fresh air into a room or clothes to remove bad smells

focuses more on removing moisture and unpleasant smells rather than cooling
to air
vsto air out
20 1.0

To put something in fresh air to dry

focuses more on removing bad smells as well as drying and renewing
to ventilate
vsto air out
12 4.4

To let fresh air into a room so it is not stuffy

applies also to single items to remove smells and dampness
to aerate
vsto air out
5 4.5

To put air into something, for example soil or liquid

uses outside airflow to remove smells and moisture rather than add oxygen
to freshen the air
vsto air out
3.4

Make the air in a room smell cleaner or nicer

is used directly on objects to remove smells and moisture

How Ventilated

to aerate
5 4.5
to ventilate
12 4.4
to air out
8 3.0
to air
20 1.0

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

air + out

The meaning 'to expose something to fresh air' is directly compositional from the verb 'air' (to ventilate or freshen) plus the particle 'out' (away/outside), so the overall sense is predictable from the parts. This motion/ventilation pattern is common cross-linguistically (e.g., French 'aérer', Spanish 'airear/ventilar'), making it readily interpretable by a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

The phrasal verb air out comes from the simple image of opening windows or hanging things outside so fresh air can move out through them. That moving air removes bad smells and wetness, so air out means 'to expose something to fresh air to remove bad smells or wetness'.