heartbeat
Americannoun
-
heartbeats
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of heartbeat
Explanation
That regular thumping in your chest is your heartbeat, the relaxation and contraction of your heart's chambers that sends blood flowing through your body. You may notice your heartbeat after you've been exercising vigorously, or when something really scares you. It's the rhythmic pulse that can be heard through a stethoscope as your heart works to pump your blood. Figuratively, a heartbeat is also a brief, quick moment, as in "It was over in a heartbeat," or something vitally important, as in "She was the heartbeat of our Girl Scout troop." Heartbeat comes from the "repeated strike of a drum" sense of beat.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Mayne told the BBC he would do the show again in a heartbeat - and largely puts its success down to the first ever cast.
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026
When it gives way, I can go from standing upright to lying flat on my back in a heartbeat.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
Atrial fibrillation is a type of irregular heartbeat that can allow blood clots to form in the heart.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 15, 2026
Gym rats can check their body composition of fat and muscle, people with heart issues can get their heartbeat captured, and mole owners can get their moles mapped to 0.1 mm.
From Slate ● Oct. 8, 2026
For a heartbeat, Torak was back with Fa on the night of the attack, transfixed by the malice of those demon haunted eyes ...
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
Put tiny versions into cardiac patients to regulate heartbeats.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 4, 2026
Symptoms including dizziness or light-headedness, fainting, noticeable heartbeats, chest pain and shortness of breath.
From BBC ● Feb. 18, 2026
New research from Australia shows that people who are physically fit actually use fewer heartbeats each day, which may help them live longer.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2025
If left unchecked, dehydration can cause more serious complications, such as fainting and irregular heartbeats.
From Salon ● Jan. 21, 2025
A swarm of angry voles.It took Kaz a few quick heartbeats to pick the lock.
From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo
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