warmth

American  

[wawrmth] / wɔrmθ /

noun

1. the quality or state of being warm; moderate or gentle heat.

2. the sensation of moderate heat.

3. liveliness of feelings, emotions, or sympathies; ardor or fervor; enthusiasm or zeal.

   She spoke her mind with great warmth. There was warmth in his greeting and in his handshake.

   Synonyms:

   vigor, spirit, fire, heat

4. the quality of being intimate and attached.

   All children need warmth and affection from their families.

   Synonyms:

   affection, kindness, tenderness

5. an effect of brightness, cheerfulness, coziness, etc., achieved by the use of warm colors.

   The room has warmth since it was redecorated.

6. the means or ability to produce a sensation of heat.

   a jacket with little warmth.

7. slight anger or irritation.

   Her denial betrayed some warmth.

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warmth British  

/ wɔːmθ /

noun

1. the state, quality, or sensation of being warm

2. intensity of emotion

   he denied the accusation with some warmth

3. affection or cordiality

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Other Word Forms

• warmthless adjective
• warmthlessness noun

Etymology

Origin of warmth

First recorded in 1125–75, warmth is from the Middle English word wermth. See warm, -th ¹

Explanation

Warmth is a quality of comfortable, soothing heat, like the warmth of a crackling fire in the hearth or the warmth of your cat in your lap. When you feel the sensation of being warm, that's warmth. You'll enjoy the warmth of a car's heated seats when you climb in after sledding for hours, as well as the warmth of a big mug of hot chocolate in your hands once you're home. Besides this literal heat-related warmth, there's also the figurative warmth of kindness and good feelings: "The warmth of my mom's smile makes everyone feel at home."

Example Sentences

Sales of heat pumps—a low-carbon technology used to extract warmth from the outside air to heat people’s homes—more than doubled in the month.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

The warmth came courtesy of a flow of southerly winds from continental Europe.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

Most of England and Wales will be dry and sunny again on Wednesday with the warmth with a gentle south to south-easterly breeze.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

Together they create warmth that feels dimensional rather than blunt.

From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026

It was Indian summer when there’s warmth again in the setting sun.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck

Related Words

• affection
• compassion
• enthusiasm
• fervor
• glow
• hospitality
• kindness
• passion
• spirit