heartthrob
AmericanUsage
What does heartthrob mean? A heartthrob is someone, especially a pop culture figure, who is considered an object of romantic desire. Traditionally, the word has been almost exclusively applied to young men. The word is especially used in the phrase teen heartthrob, referring to a young person, especially a musician or actor, who is the object of teenagers’ romantic affection, especially that of teenage girls. Teen heartthrobs are sometimes teenagers themselves, though they’re often in their 20s or sometimes even older. This popular sense of heartthrob comes from the use of the word to mean a sweetheart—someone’s romantic partner. Less commonly, heartthrob can be used as another word for a rapid heartbeat. Based on this meaning, it can also be used figuratively to refer to a passionate emotion. Neither of these senses are commonly used anymore. Example: Every generation has a heartthrob idolized for their good looks, talent, and charismatic personality.
Etymology
Origin of heartthrob
Explanation
A heartthrob is someone, usually a hunky guy, who is so attractive that he makes our hearts throb in our chests. A heartthrob is often someone famous like a movie star. The word heartthrob has been used to describe someone who makes people feel romantic since the 1920’s. It’s officially gender neutral, but it usually describes a man. Heartthrobs are movie stars, musicians or any celebrity that people want to smooch. It could also be the cute high school football player that all the girls have crushes on. The first cited heartthrob (1839 in the OED) was simply "a pulsation of the heart." It wasn't long till this morphed into something that causes the heart to throb (perhaps abnormally so), and soon thereafter, into someone who causes the heart to throb with desire and longing: that's what we usually mean by heartthrob today.
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.
Backstage, I asked Danny senior what it feels like to have become a heartthrob for Gen Z, thanks to his role in the Disney+ show.
From BBC • May 10, 2026
“Dawson’s Creek” made Van Der Beek a heartthrob more impactful than any of his contemporaries — a character more open than Jared Leto’s icy Jordan Catalano, and more altruistic than Luke Perry’s Dylan McKay.
From Salon • Feb. 15, 2026
The floppy-haired, often flannel-clad Van Der Beek wasn’t the show’s breakout heartthrob.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2026
James Van Der Beek, best known as the sensitive heartthrob star of TV show “Dawson’s Creek,” died Wednesday at age 48, his publicist confirmed.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026
“Milez with a z is supposed to be the teen heartthrob all the girls love, and one of Dad’s next cash cows.”
From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
