change of heart

American

noun

a reversal of one's feelings, intentions, opinions, etc..

At first Mother said we couldn't go, but she had a change of heart and let us.

change of heart Idioms

Altered feelings or attitude, as in Paul didn't like his new job, but a raise prompted a change of heart and he became quite enthusiastic. [Early 1800s]

Etymology

Origin of change of heart

First recorded in 1820–30

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:

change of heart

Shortly after Stenberg said Adeyemi gave the actor her blessing, they had a text exchange that hinted at a change of heart or different story entirely.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026

Besides, some Platner voters may have had a change of heart since the primary and would like their sudden prioritization of boringness to be reflected in their next candidate.

From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026

The decision raises the risk that Iran’s leaders might have a change of heart regarding their nuclear program as well, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 21, 2026

"I've had a different creative change of heart," she said.

From BBC ● Mar. 13, 2026

But maybe his change of heart came from something else.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023