change of heart

American

noun

a reversal of one's feelings, intentions, opinions, etc..

At first Mother said we couldn't go, but she had a change of heart and let us.

change of heart Idioms

Altered feelings or attitude, as in Paul didn't like his new job, but a raise prompted a change of heart and he became quite enthusiastic. [Early 1800s]

Etymology

Origin of change of heart

First recorded in 1820–30

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:

change of heart

Besides, some Platner voters may have had a change of heart since the primary and would like their sudden prioritization of boringness to be reflected in their next candidate.

From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026

That, she said, would require someone to have "a massive change of heart or we find some really compelling evidence".

From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026

The decision raises the risk that Iran’s leaders might have a change of heart regarding their nuclear program as well, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 21, 2026

That might signal a change of heart around the dollar.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 4, 2026

Burn wanted to explain his change of heart, so the next day he inserted a personal statement into the House Journal.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023