heartache
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
- heartaching adjective
Etymology
Origin of heartache
before 1000; Middle English hert ache, Old English heort ece; see heart, ache
Explanation
The death of your beloved cat may cause you heartache, or a powerful feeling of loss and sadness. Heartache is often caused by the grief of losing someone you love. Although it doesn't necessarily cause physical discomfort, heartache is an emotionally painful experience. You feel heartache when you lose a loved one, especially when the person you love dies, or when it's impossible for you to be together. Shakespearean tragedies are famously full of heartache. The root of heartache is the Old English heortece, which originally meant a literal "physical pain in the heart," and later came to mean "anguish."
Vocabulary lists containing heartache
Vocabulary from Langston Hughes's "Jazz as Communication"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
American Street
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
“The heartache, the times when I was hungry. My whole journey was: I have to learn how to figure it out.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026
Johnson, who was already in the traditional leader's chair after her aggressive run down the slope, said that she felt "heartache" at Vonn's crash, which completely changed the complexion of the race.
From Barron's • Feb. 8, 2026
It’s a simple step that could save you a lot of heartache if something is wrong, especially if you’re trying to get a mortgage or rent an apartment.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 9, 2026
"Lots of time, visits to solicitors, admin, heartache, worry - it's been a nightmare," he says.
From BBC • Dec. 19, 2025
My eyes meet hers, dark and filled with heartache, and I know I’m not wrong.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
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.
