palpitation

[pal-pi-tey-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of palpitating.

2. an unusually or abnormally rapid or violent beating of the heart.

Word History and Origins

Origin of palpitation¹

1595–1605; < Latin palpitātiōn- (stem of palpitātiō ) a throbbing. See palpitate, -ion

Example Sentences

It starts with a short quiz: “How much do night sweats, heart palpitations, brain fog, etc. affect your daily life?”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Many of his neighbors were beginning to feel ill, reporting issues such as heart palpitations, vomiting, burning eyes and bloody noses.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Central to the deal when you come to Hampden is the possibility of palpitations, dizziness and nausea - and so it was again on Sunday.

Read more on BBC

He asked anyone affected to seek medical attention and listed symptoms from fatigue to vertigo, seizures, confusion, tightness in chest and heart palpitations.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A simple delivery from out wide or down the middle causes palpitations, defenders second-guessing each other, nobody taking command.

Read more on BBC

When To Use

What does palpitation mean?

Palpitation is most commonly used to refer to a heart palpitation—an unusually or abnormally rapid or violent beating of the heart.Heart palpitations typically involve the heart beating hard and faster, and they may also involve an irregularity in rhythm.Palpitation can also refer to the act, process, or an instance of palpitating—pulsing, throbbing, or trembling. When your heart palpitates, it beats more quickly or in a fluttering way.Example: My doctor said my heart palpitations may be due to a combination of stress and too much caffeine.