heartbreak
Americannoun
-
heartbreaks
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of heartbreak
Explanation
Heartbreak is a feeling of overwhelming sadness and grief. As Elvis sang, "Well, since my baby left me, I found a new place to dwell. Well, it's down at the end of Lonely Street, at Heartbreak Hotel." Heartbreak can result from the breakup of a romantic relationship, or even the end of a platonic friendship — the heartbreak of having your best childhood pal move to another country can last a long time. The deep sorrow you feel when a loved one dies is an even more lasting and terrible kind of heartbreak. You can also use this word in an exaggerated way: "The soccer team's heartbreak was evident when they lost that match."
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:
As with many Alzheimer’s patients, they don’t believe they are changing, which intensifies the heartbreak of those who love and care for them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
But after the heartbreak she’s experienced, Sally’s had enough.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
Two of his most acclaimed full-length collections, 2002’s “Sea Change” and 2014’s “Morning Phase,” were downcast acoustic offerings steeped in heartbreak and loss informed by both British folk and California country-rock.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
Here, Bree experiences heartbreak, isolation, bewilderment, unconditional affection, joy, anger, frustration, regret and contentment.
From Salon ● Aug. 28, 2026
The song sounded like it was about heartbreak, or hope, or maybe a little bit of both.
From "The Honest Truth" by Dan Gemeinhart
"We have been through injury, heartbreaks, losses. We have been losers at times in the most important moments," Zverev said.
From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2026
Yet even Honor is cowed by the household’s steely Yugoslav maid, Greta, who dismisses all heartbreaks and hysterics with the motto, “play stupid games, win stupid prizes.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026
The show often reflected for audiences formative parts of their lives too – first loves, first heartbreaks, births, deaths and marriages.
From BBC ● Dec. 10, 2025
I didn’t get nearly enough corn or tomatoes, and heartbreak of heartbreaks, I missed the figs completely.
From Salon ● Sep. 21, 2025
And between the good and the bad there were others, moments colored not so much by fear or danger but by tiny heartbreaks, thimblefuls of betrayal.
From "Out of Darkness" by Ashley Hope Pérez
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.
