warmth
Americannoun
-
warmth
plural
-
the quality or state of being warm; moderate or gentle heat.
-
the sensation of moderate heat.
-
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.
-
the quality of being intimate and attached.
All children need warmth and affection from their families.
- Synonyms:
- affection, kindness, tenderness
-
an effect of brightness, cheerfulness, coziness, etc., achieved by the use of warm colors.
The room has warmth since it was redecorated.
-
the means or ability to produce a sensation of heat.
a jacket with little warmth.
-
slight anger or irritation.
Her denial betrayed some warmth.
noun
-
the state, quality, or sensation of being warm
-
intensity of emotion
he denied the accusation with some warmth
-
affection or cordiality
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The weather in this part of the world can be downright vengeful, but the next day, as we drove deeper into the Westfjords, the sun shone with genuine warmth.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
El Niño is a climate pattern marked by unusual warmth in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, and results in changes to the atmosphere that, typically, lead to above-average precipitation in Southern California.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2026
"You can really feel the warmth in Taiwanese society," said Feng Jing-heng, 70, who was in the crowd watching the military parade and dance performances.
From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 2026
“Verity” is no different, allowing Johnson to move her character between suspicion and warmth with languid ease as she settles into Verity’s Vermont home to work.
From Salon ● Oct. 9, 2026
“Vinye!” he said, and there was so much warmth in the word—“my child”— and in his embrace, that I immediately felt I was exactly where I was meant to be.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
