heartbeat

noun

heart·​beat ˈhärt-ˌbēt How to pronounce heartbeat (audio)
Synonyms of heartbeatnext
1
: one complete pulsation of the heart
2
: the vital center or driving impulse
3
: a brief space of time : flash
—used chiefly in the phrase in a heartbeat

Synonyms of heartbeat

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Examples of heartbeat in a Sentence

The patient had a rapid heartbeat. I'd accept a job offer from that company in a heartbeat.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The suites are generous, the dining focuses on Argentinian beef, and the location positions you at the center of the city’s heartbeat. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026 As International Allyship Day approaches, organizations are urged to embed inclusion as a continuous cultural heartbeat, moving beyond performative gestures. — Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 As the Mooton host approaches in the forest, the sounds of a war drum fill the air, like a resounding heartbeat. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026 Remarkably, researchers were able to link these changes to a specific protein affected by the heartbeat. — Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for heartbeat

Word History

First Known Use

1821, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of heartbeat was in 1821

Phrases Containing heartbeat

Rhymes for heartbeat

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Browse Nearby Words

heart balm
heartbeat
heartbeat law
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Cite this Entry

“Heartbeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heartbeat. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

heartbeat

noun
heart·​beat ˈhärt-ˌbēt How to pronounce heartbeat (audio)
: a single contracting and expanding of the heart

Medical Definition

heartbeat

noun
heart·​beat ˈhärt-ˌbēt How to pronounce heartbeat (audio)
: one complete pulsation of the heart

More from Merriam-Webster on heartbeat

Nglish: Translation of heartbeat for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about heartbeat

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