heart rate

American

[hahrt reyt] / ˈhɑrt ˌreɪt /

noun

the number of heartbeats per minute.

heart rate Scientific

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

Etymology

Origin of heart rate

First recorded in 1870–75

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.

Heart rate, blood-oxygen level, skin temperature, body movement and other readings aren’t useful in one-off measurements.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

Heart rate can also be remotely measured using video analysis with a digital visible light camera, which doesn't need specialized equipment and can reuse existing videos.

From Science Daily • Jun. 19, 2024

Heart rate is a key marker of cardiovascular activity and an important vital sign.

From Salon • Dec. 31, 2022

Heart rate is a good indicator for heart health - the lower your resting heart rate the better - and Fitbit has found that during lockdown average resting heart rates have fallen.

From BBC • May 4, 2020

Heart rate measures how many times per minute your heart beats.

From Washington Post • Apr. 12, 2019

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