having a specified feeling, mood, personality trait, or kind of heart (now used only in combination).
hardhearted;
sad-hearted.
fixed or present in the heart.
What does hearted mean? Hearted is used in compound words to mean “having a specific type of personality or trait.” The word that precedes hearted indicates the type of personality or trait, as in hardhearted or warm-hearted. Hearted can also be used by itself to mean “present in the heart,” but this usage is very rare. Example: Tim’s so kindhearted that he gave his coat to a homeless man on his walk home today.
First recorded in 1175–1225, hearted is from the Middle English word iherted. See y-, heart, -ed 3
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"When we were all talking during the broadcast, Domhnall made a light hearted joke about wanting to be in one of my music videos," she recalled.
From BBC ● Feb. 6, 2026
"Our dad a warrior on the football pitch, captaining club and country, a kind hearted and generous man off it," she said.
From BBC ● Jan. 9, 2026
"Quiet, intensive, intuitive, constant and hugely creative, 'Teddy' was a warm hearted and vital part of The Cure story."
From Barron's ● Dec. 26, 2025
“Quiet, intense, intuitive constant and hugely creative, ‘Teddy’ was a warm hearted and vital part of the Cure story,” the band said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 26, 2025
He was a rank-and-file, evil- hearted human, nothing more, with a sister all but dead.
From "Typical American" by Gish Jen
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.
