heartthrob

[hahrt-throb]

noun

1. a rapid beat or pulsation of the heart.

2. a passionate or sentimental emotion.

3. sweetheart.

Word History and Origins

Origin of heartthrob¹

First recorded in 1840–50; heart + throb

Example Sentences

The actor and former teen heartthrob is starring in his latest holiday film for Netflix, which required him to dance for hours while baring his abs for all.

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Her sales pitch hinges on the heartthrob protagonist: “He’s like a hot conspiracy theorist. If there even is such a thing.”

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Redford, the picture of a classic cowboy and blonde heartthrob, was no stranger to subverting expectations in his work onscreen.

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As someone young enough to have witnessed Butler’s emergent days as a Nickelodeon and Disney Channel teen heartthrob firsthand, I’ll admit that I never quite understood the appeal.

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Despite a handful of notable television showings — may we never forget Tom Welling’s “Smallville” heartthrob status — Superman as a character has been fittingly impervious.

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Related Words

• sweetheart 

When To Use

What does heartthrob mean?

A heartthrob is someone, especially a pop culture figure, who is considered an object of romantic desire. Traditionally, the word has been almost exclusively applied to young men.The word is especially used in the phrase teen heartthrob, referring to a young person, especially a musician or actor, who is the object of teenagers’ romantic affection, especially that of teenage girls. Teen heartthrobs are sometimes teenagers themselves, though they’re often in their 20s or sometimes even older.This popular sense of heartthrob comes from the use of the word to mean a sweetheart—someone’s romantic partner.Less commonly, heartthrob can be used as another word for a rapid heartbeat. Based on this meaning, it can also be used figuratively to refer to a passionate emotion. Neither of these senses are commonly used anymore.Example: Every generation has a heartthrob idolized for their good looks, talent, and charismatic personality.