throbbing

American

[throb-ing] / ˈθrɒb ɪŋ /

adjective

beating or pulsing rapidly or forcefully, as the heart under the influence of emotion or excitement.

One may use a sweet, patient tone and words, but the throbbing vein in the temple betrays one’s anger.
feeling or exhibiting strong emotion or passion.

As he spoke to the students crashing the climate convention, he was clearly thrilled to be there in that throbbing mass of youthful exuberance.
pulsating or vibrating regularly.

The throbbing sound was now at full volume, and it was indeed drums—deep, heavy goatskin drums.
being or feeling pain that occurs in rhythmic waves or bursts.

A sinus infection often results in a throbbing headache.
He pounded on the closed door, but with no effect apart from a throbbing fist.
full of or characterized by lively energy.

This throbbing metropolis is also the world capital of salsa.

noun

the act of beating fast or forcefully, pulsating or vibrating, or occurring in rhythmic waves.

The pain in his shoulder had subsided to a dull throbbing.
Astronomers have measured the throbbing of a sun-like star 24 light-years away.
the act or fact of feeling or exhibiting strong emotion or passion.

The throbbing of my rage was so powerful that the ground trembled.
lively energy.

Feel the throbbing of the world’s cultures at the annual international festival this weekend!

Other Word Forms

throbbingly adverb
unthrobbing adjective

Etymology

Origin of throbbing

First recorded in 1400–50; throb ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; throb ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun senses

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.

So what to do about your underwhelming past lovers, your Pisces Venusian yearning, your throbbing heart, your efforts to prepare yourself to love from the most whole place you possibly can?

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026

A couple of years ago, a falling durian landed on his shoulder, leaving him with a throbbing pain that acts up now and then.

From BBC • Jan. 10, 2026

The plastic symmetry of “Battleship Potemkin,” its humanity, and its throbbing power still command respect, and Sergei Eisenstein endures as the finest film editor the world has seen.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

She knew her throbbing knees and elbows meant fluid was leaking out of her joints.

From Slate • Sep. 9, 2025

He realized that he did: a low, throbbing beat, coming from all around them, near at hand and far away, which echoed through the hills.

From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman

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