heartthrob
AmericanUsage
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.
Etymology
Origin of heartthrob
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.
He’s sort of a heartthrob on campus once he gets there.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2026
Lanky heartthrob Jacob Elordi, up for best supporting actor, offered a similarly toned down vibe at an impromptu photo shoot.
From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026
James Van Der Beek, best known as the sensitive heartthrob star of TV show “Dawson’s Creek,” died Wednesday at age 48, his publicist confirmed.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026
He might have appeared on Michael McIntyre's Big Show, but Buckinghamshire-born Nash jokes that he is also well known for simply being an "Instagram heartthrob".
From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026
Chris Cornell of Soundgarden dresses like that and he’s a heartthrob.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
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.
