throb
Americanverb (used without object)
noun
-
the act of throbbing.
-
a violent beat or pulsation, as of the heart.
-
any pulsation or vibration.
the throb of engines.
verb
-
to pulsate or beat repeatedly, esp with increased force
to throb with pain
-
(of engines, drums, etc) to have a strong rhythmic vibration or beat
noun
Related Words
See pulsate.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of throb
First recorded in 1325–75; unattested Middle English throbben, implied in present participle throbbant “throbbing”; further origin unknown
Explanation
Things that throb have a strong, regular pulse or rhythm. Loud music with a heavy beat or bass line can seem to throb inside your head — especially if your downstairs neighbors are playing it while you're trying to sleep. Your heartbeat throbs especially fast when you're upset or just after you've been running, and something painful can throb too, like the ache of a stubbed toe. No one's exactly sure where the word throb comes from — most experts guess that it originated as a representation of the sound and feeling of your pulse.
Vocabulary lists containing throb
That Hurts! Synonyms for "Pain"
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Dear Martin
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"Sympathy" by Paul Laurence Dunbar
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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.
In one video with more than seven million views on Instagram, Boy Throb offers a surprisingly accurate explanation of the visa process to the tune of “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026
It’s feasible that Darshan and Boy Throb have done enough to meet the standard, said James Hollis, a Memphis immigration attorney who specializes in O-1 visas for artists and athletes.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026
Refusing to let rejection hold him back, Evan gathered a dedicated TikTok following before joining forces with the rest of Boy Throb.
From BBC • Dec. 19, 2025
But when Newsbeat asks if Boy Throb are sincere, band member Evan insists they are.
From BBC • Dec. 19, 2025
Throb, throb, throb—beat, went the engine; throb, throb, throb—beat.
From The Sleeper Awakes A Revised Edition of When the Sleeper Wakes by Wells, H. G. (Herbert George)
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.
