heart rate

American  

[hahrt reyt] / ˈhɑrt ˌreɪt /

noun

• heart rates
  plural

1. the number of heartbeats per minute.

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heart rate Scientific  

1. The number of heartbeats per unit of time, usually expressed as beats per minute.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• heart rates
  plural

Etymology

Origin of heart rate

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

heart rate

We live in an era of hyper-quantification, with the ability to track everything from the number of steps we walk in a day to our heart rate to the hours spent in REM sleep.

From Slate ● Aug. 29, 2026

While it is generally considered safe when taken as prescribed, inappropriate or high-dose use can cause dizziness, fainting and a dangerously slow heart rate.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

The Johns Hopkins researchers studied miniature models of the hindbrain, a region at the back of the skull that helps control essential functions such as breathing, sleep and heart rate.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026

And no matter what you’re wearing, he says, anyone exercising in extreme heat needs to stop if they notice a higher heart rate, excessive fatigue or muscle cramps.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

He closed his eyes and tried to focus on his heart rate, taking slow, shallower breaths.

From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste