heartthrob

American  

[hahrt-throb] / ˈhɑrtˌθrɒb /

noun

• heartthrobs
  plural

1. a rapid beat or pulsation of the heart.

2. a passionate or sentimental emotion.

3. sweetheart.

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Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• heartthrobs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of heartthrob

First recorded in 1840–50; heart + throb

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

See Examples For:

heartthrob heartthrobs

OK, well, heartthrob — I don’t know about that.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

In 1968, the Beatles made Asher head of A&R at Apple Records, where he signed James Taylor; the two soon moved to Los Angeles and turned Taylor into music’s biggest heartthrob folkie.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026

They came of age when Orlando Bloom’s Legolas, kitted out in a blond wig, armor and prosthetic pointy ears, was a teen heartthrob.

From Salon ● Jun. 24, 2026

Former Big Brother heartthrob Alex Sibley shot to fame in the 2002 series, appearing with housemates Jade Goody and Alison Hammond.

From BBC ● May 8, 2026

Call a suitor a heartthrob if he’s better than all previous candidates.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos

These days there’s no keeping Hollywood’s gay icons and hetero heartthrobs apart.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026

In a pre–social media era, eating alongside Indiana Jones’ whip or the steering wheel from Titanic was about as close as you could get to your favorite cinematic heroes and heartthrobs.

From Slate ● Nov. 30, 2024

There is something quite bold about telling people you look like someone famous - especially if your supposed doppelganger is one of the world’s biggest heartthrobs.

From BBC ● Nov. 15, 2024

“The teen heartthrobs of Fox’s ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ ... garnered the biggest cheers and screams from the teen fans who lined the streets,” The Times said in a 1991 Emmys red carpet story.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2024

"What? Has love gone from the world? Are there no more heartthrobs left? No screen goddesses to adore or cheerleaders to pine for?"

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda

Related Words

• sweetheart