heartfelt
Americanadjective
adjective
Etymology
Origin of heartfelt
Explanation
If something is heartfelt, it's sincere and warm. It's clear from your elderly neighbor's heartfelt invitation that she genuinely wants you to come over for tea and cookies. When you're profoundly grateful to your favorite teacher, you'll offer her your heartfelt thanks. And when your best friend's dog dies, you'll give him your heartfelt sympathy. Things that are heartfelt are deeply emotional, believed or felt very strongly. The word dates from the 18th century, from heart, with its Old English root heorte, "heart, spirit, or mind."
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.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends grieving the loss of a loved one due to West Nile virus,” L.A.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
“Our heartfelt sympathies go to Jason Arday’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Ground yourself with some compassion: Slate senior editor Tony Ho Tran takes a spin as Prudie and dishes out some exceptionally heartfelt advice.
From Slate ● Aug. 5, 2026
She died in hospital during surgery, after exchanging "heartfelt 'I love you's with her eldest daughter", her family said in the GoFundMe page launched after her death.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
“For this accept my heartfelt thanks,” he writes his brother.
From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman
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.
