heartbeat

noun

heart·​beat ˈhärt-ˌbēt How to pronounce heartbeat (audio)
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

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.
Marshall Street is the neighborhood’s heartbeat, lined with cafés, collegiate shops, and game-day hangouts, while just steps away, the SU campus has leafy quads, Gothic-style architecture, and cultural institutions like the Syracuse University Art Museum and the JMA Wireless Dome. Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2025 In the clip, Pomelo was calmly perched in the vet’s arms while the expert struggled to listen through the stethoscope; the tiny cat’s motor-like purring drowned out any chance of hearing her heartbeat. Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025 Here, community isn’t just a vague ideal but a synced heartbeat shared by all, whether that means showing up to pep rallies or trading sacks of dusty, fragrant ‘Pawnee’ pecans with neighbors and friends. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2025 Spanning over 30 years and recognized as the most influential week in Latin music, the event will once again celebrate the heartbeat of Latin music and culture with four days of panels, marquee conversations, roundtables, showcases, networking and activations. Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 11 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for heartbeat

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of heartbeat was in 1850

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Heartbeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heartbeat. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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