Synonyms

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.

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

In a better world, perhaps he’d have had a change of heart and repented of his increasingly intolerant tirades.

From Salon • May 8, 2026

Trying to stitch things together, Mr. Stoller and Mr. Serkis have the animals decide to mistrust both Napoleon and Snowball; this latter change of heart is odd, as Snowball was proved right about everything.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

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

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

Thomas was surprised at the sudden change of heart.

From "The Maze Runner" by James Dashner

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