heartbreak
Americannoun
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.
Many fans have blamed her relationship with Kelce, suggesting that the couple’s contented monogamy means Swift has lost her edge as the queen of heartbreak songs.
From Salon • Jul. 8, 2026
Sports watch: Those suffering from withdrawal from daily World Cup matches can hop on the Tour de France bandwagon, which has almost as much drama, heartbreak and crazy fans.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 30, 2026
A mother whose teenage son drowned after swimming in a reservoir during hot weather has urged people to stay out of open water, saying she does not want another family to experience the same heartbreak.
From BBC • Jun. 25, 2026
Kingsley looks at me, gauging if I’ve grasped the heartbreak of the moment.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2026
You’re setting yourself up for heartbreak, Patel, he told himself.
From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon
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.
