heartbreak
Americannoun
noun
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.
At a romantic spot on Vancouver Island, George creates an itinerary to heal Frankie from heartbreak.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
“No one could’ve prepared us for the heartbreak we faced 6 weeks after our little miracle was born,” one mother wrote.
From Salon • May 7, 2026
Images released by a local media outlet showed a woman being evacuated on a stretcher and scenes of heartbreak outside the school, with people crying and hugging each other.
From Barron's • May 6, 2026
While I could tell Levi was struggling, like her family, I did not foresee the heartbreak to come.
From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026
Another year of missing all the normal teenagery things—learner’s permit, first kiss, prom, first heartbreak, first fender bender.
From "Everything, Everything" by Nicola Yoon
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.
