heartbroken

American  

[hahrt-broh-kuhn] / ˈhɑrtˌbroʊ kən /

adjective

1. crushed with sorrow or grief.

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heartbroken British  

/ ˈhɑːtˌbrəʊkən /

adjective

1. suffering from intense grief

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Other Word Forms

• heartbrokenly
  adverb
• heartbrokenness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of heartbroken

First recorded in 1580–90; heart + broken

Explanation

To be heartbroken is to be so sad that it feels like your heart has cracked inside your chest. You’d be heartbroken after a death, but you can also be heartbroken when you get dumped by your girlfriend or boyfriend. Waaaaaa. When someone is heartbroken, they are deeply sorrowful or distressed. Feeling heartbroken about a tragic accident or disaster is an understandable response, and being heartbroken after a romantic breakup is basically inevitable. The word heartbroken has been used since the late 1500s, and it comes from heartbreak, which is rooted in the Old English heorte, "heart" and also "spirit" or "soul."

Example Sentences

She “was shocked, heartbroken, and felt utterly betrayed,” and was motivated to reexamine and scrutinize archival “Avatar” materials.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

Debbie Lee, the chief executive of DTSM, said in a statement Thursday that the organization was heartbroken as employees processed the news of Ferguson’s death.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

In a statement shared with US media partner CBS News on Wednesday, Brian Hooker said he was "heartbroken" about his wife's disappearance and thanked authorities and volunteers for the ongoing search.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

She says she never imagined living through a moment that would leave her feeling both heartbroken and profoundly proud of her city.

From Salon • Apr. 6, 2026

Yet Beowulf was dedicated to his art and would be heartbroken to give it up, even temporarily.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• grief-stricken
• sad