hearten
Americanverb (used with object)
-
heartens,
present (3rd person singular)
-
heartened,
past participle, past
-
heartening
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
heartensimple
-
heartenssimple
-
have heartenedperfect
-
has heartenedperfect
-
am hearteningprogressive
-
are hearteningprogressive
-
is hearteningprogressive
-
have been hearteningperfect progressive
-
has been hearteningperfect progressive
Past
-
heartenedsimple
-
had heartenedperfect
-
was hearteningprogressive
-
were hearteningprogressive
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
This Week in Words : January 19 - 25, 2019
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Every Day
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
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
Its inclusion will hearten many developing nations, which have been asking for a clear financial commitment to tackle the impacts of climate change that they can't adapt to.
From BBC ● Nov. 10, 2021
But what if you’re looking to hearten rather than startle the soul?
From New York Times ● Oct. 29, 2020
But we knew that the news would hearten them.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
It heartens her when people tell her they are vaccinated and boosted, if eligible.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 28, 2022
It fortifies and heartens me to witness the protests against this practice and the growing clamor from serious, nonpartisan public servants to redress it.
From New York Times ● Jun. 26, 2020
“What heartens me was within a couple of weeks of that passing, was the council came together and said, ‘Let’s do what we can to make sure that we get a year-round shelter before then.’
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 12, 2018
The outpouring of support heartens her, but Valerio has a less-than-optimistic forecast for Muslims.
From The Guardian ● May 13, 2018
It heartens a patient and gives him the will power to throw off his anxieties and to keep from watching his heart and thus further interfering with its activities.
From Health Through Will Power by James J. (James Joseph) Walsh
I’m heartened that you realize that taking care of your father was no small deal for your stepmother.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026
"And I was heartened to hear Julia reflect that that was the experience that took place in our office."
From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026
I’ve been heartened by the throngs of people gathered in multiplexes, even if it means the floors are extra sticky from spilled soda.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
Investors seemed heartened by news that British authorities have cleared Ellison’s proposed takeover.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
At the time it heartened me that Bunny, in spite of his obviously disturbed state of mind, nonetheless continued to follow the old routine so easily.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
"I find it very heartening," 24-year-old Magnus Bjerg Sturm told AFP at the Social Democrats party at a Stockholm conference centre.
From Barron's ● Sep. 13, 2026
Not to tout major corporations too much, but it is heartening to see that even businesses worth billions of dollars have their customer in mind, too.
From Salon ● Sep. 11, 2026
It’s heartening that the movies are getting closer to that day.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
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
A stream overhung with palms wound beside them with a loud, heartening sound.
From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
