heartburn
Americannoun
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an uneasy burning sensation in the stomach, typically extending toward the esophagus, and sometimes associated with the eructation of an acid fluid.
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bitter jealousy; envy.
noun
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A burning sensation, usually centered in the middle of the chest near the sternum, caused by the reflux of acidic stomach fluids that enter the lower end of the esophagus.
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Also called acid reflux
Etymology
Origin of heartburn
First recorded in 1590–1600; translation of Greek kardialgía; heart + burn 1
Explanation
Heartburn is an uncomfortable form of indigestion that feels like a burning in your chest. You might experience heartburn after eating twelve slices of pizza for dinner. People with a tendency to get heartburn often start to feel a painful sensation after they eat. Heartburn can begin as an acidic feeling in your stomach that moves up into your upper chest. It happens when gastric acid is regurgitated into the esophagus, and it can also be called "acid indigestion." The original, thirteenth century meaning of heartburn was "lust," but by the fifteenth century it had come to have today's meaning of "indigestion."
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.
And coasting into the next phase of this tournament isn’t just a salve for the heartburn that the Americans tend to give their own fans.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026
They have bloating, heartburn and other digestive issues.
From Salon • Jun. 14, 2026
British pharmaceutical group GSK reported Wednesday a sharp rise in annual net profit, boosted by strong sales of HIV, respiratory and cancer treatments as it recovered from costly US lawsuits over its Zantac heartburn treatment.
From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026
“It would have saved us a lot of heartburn and grief. Would it have changed the ultimate outcome of the case? Probably not.”
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 30, 2024
When I read the circular, I felt a tight discomfort in my chest like the heartburn I got after eating greasy akara.
From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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.
