heartbeat
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of heartbeat
Explanation
That regular thumping in your chest is your heartbeat, the relaxation and contraction of your heart's chambers that sends blood flowing through your body. You may notice your heartbeat after you've been exercising vigorously, or when something really scares you. It's the rhythmic pulse that can be heard through a stethoscope as your heart works to pump your blood. Figuratively, a heartbeat is also a brief, quick moment, as in "It was over in a heartbeat," or something vitally important, as in "She was the heartbeat of our Girl Scout troop." Heartbeat comes from the "repeated strike of a drum" sense of beat.
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.
Heartbeat also cast the show with singers experienced in musical theater, counting on their ability to articulate the English text clearly.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026
He has been the musical soul of Heartbeat since its founding, adapting works by Puccini, Donizetti and more with a vision as creative as each production’s director.
From New York Times • Apr. 4, 2024
The Tuohys have said they divided it five ways, according to their 2010 book, “In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving.”
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 14, 2023
Heartbeat, a police drama set in 1960s North Yorkshire, featured actors including Derek Fowlds, Nick Berry and Tricia Penrose.
From BBC • Jul. 26, 2023
The Heartbeat of Miami lawsuit also accused Mr. Freestone and Ms. Rivera of crashing the organization’s annual gala held Sept. 17 at the Trump National Doral Miami Resort & Hotel.
From Washington Times • Mar. 30, 2023
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.
