hearten
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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heartensimple
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heartenssimple
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have heartenedperfect
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has heartenedperfect
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am hearteningprogressive
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are hearteningprogressive
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is hearteningprogressive
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have been hearteningperfect progressive
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has been hearteningperfect progressive
Past
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heartenedsimple
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had heartenedperfect
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was hearteningprogressive
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were hearteningprogressive
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had been hearteningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of hearten
Explanation
Things that hearten you cheer you up. A welcome home party will hearten even the weariest traveler. You might buy flowers for your grandmother to hearten her after a difficult week, or hearten a shy tap dancer with applause after his routine. Things that encourage or inspire, whether it's the sight of your dog waiting for you outside school or another person's success, can also be said to hearten. The figurative meaning of heart — as in "losing heart" or having a "change of heart" — is at the root of hearten, from the Old English heorte, "heart, soul, or spirit."
Vocabulary lists containing hearten
The Crucible
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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.
See Examples For:
This will hearten Kyiv, which has demanded more pressure be placed on Russia in talks between Moscow and Washington discussing a possible ceasefire.
From BBC ● May 1, 2025
The outpouring of love and offers of support hearten us.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 27, 2023
The relatively shorter break, after the company picked 2025 as the potential date for BTS' return as a group, also appeared to hearten the market.
From Reuters ● Oct. 18, 2022
But what if you’re looking to hearten rather than startle the soul?
From New York Times ● Oct. 29, 2020
It cannot be otherwise, that is how we hearten ourselves.
From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque
It heartens her when people tell her they are vaccinated and boosted, if eligible.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 28, 2022
Why they did so well when thousands of other people over 80 have succumbed to the new disease is a mystery that intrigues and heartens physicians and aging experts.
From Washington Times ● Jun. 20, 2020
“What heartens me is that Republicans and Democrats both hear about this issue,” she said.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 6, 2019
And though I know his battle against the shadows that kept him company in solitary are not yet won, he is getting better, which heartens me.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 30, 2018
She knows how it heartens folk to play a great part in a great business: keeps them from feeling the fingers of famine in their inwards, keeps them from whining, repining, declining, what you will.
From The Lady of Loyalty House A Novel by McCarthy, Justin H. (Justin Huntly)
McShane and Sartenaer have been heartened by the immediate response to the documentary.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026
Not everyone in the region is so heartened; the war has shattered the illusion that the Gulf is a luxurious safe haven.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 13, 2026
The MND Association also said it was "heartened" to see Baroness Casey had listened and recommended the need for a fast-track passport enabling people with MND to secure the care and support they need.
From BBC ● Mar. 5, 2026
Clark is also heartened that the average withdrawal amount remains low, with a median withdrawal of $1,900, down slightly from $2,100 in 2024.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 4, 2026
This victory hath heartened those upon this frigate greatly.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
At a time when drama has come to depend on celebrity leads and commercial hype, this bounty of understated excellence is heartening.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
"We didn't realise how wide the interest is; it's heartening to see that a lot of people care about this farm," said Hicks.
From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026
Either way, it’s heartening to hear people say they want to give back.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 20, 2026
So it was heartening to see, in addition to the longtime concertgoers who are legion, several former Ojai music directors, the title given annually to the person or group who is the festival’s public face.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
It was heartening to see them there; my mother had journeyed all the way from the Transkei.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
