heartburn
noun
heart·burn
ˈhärt-ˌbərn 
plural heartburns
: a burning discomfort behind the lower part of the sternum due especially to the backward flow of the acidic contents of the stomach into the esophagus
In any given month, about one-quarter of Americans suffer from heartburn, which is caused by reflux, or backward flow, of stomach acid into the esophagus.—
Clyde M. Burnham
Clyde M. BurnhamHeartburn—painful reflux of stomach acid—can occur in a person with a perfectly intact esophagus.—Paul G. Donohue
see acid reflux
Paul G. DonohueExamples of heartburn in a Sentence
I like spicy food, but it gives me heartburn.
Recent Examples on the Web
Possible side effects of omega-3 supplements include bad breath, heartburn, nausea, diarrhea, headaches, smelly sweat, and an unpleasant taste in the mouth.
—Isabel Vasquez, Rd, Ldn, Parents, 4 Apr. 2024
What’s more, boosting your gut motility and moving the food out quickly can also help with heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), says Dr. Ganjhu—there’s simply less time for the digestive acids to do their thing.
—Lizzy Briskin, SELF, 29 Mar. 2024
How to prevent heartburn No matter how frequently one experiences it, there are several strategies for preventing heartburn.
—Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024
Health Conditions Sometimes halitosis can be a symptom of a health condition like heartburn, high blood pressure, or Sjogren's syndrome.
—Maria Masters, Health, 21 Aug. 2023
Milk of magnesia is a liquid antacid commonly used to treat heartburn and indigestion, but Dr. Palomo says applying a little bit on your sore can knock out some of that pain.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 18 Mar. 2024
Residents have raised concerns after experiencing similar symptoms to those during the 2021 contamination, such as rashes, headaches, heartburn and fatigue.
—Jeremy Yurow, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2024
Ginger is generally well tolerated but can occasionally cause heartburn or an upset stomach.
—Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024
The rapid effects of fluctuating pregnancy hormones can trigger symptoms like intense nausea, heartburn, and vomiting, Kamilah Dixon, MD, a clinical associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, tells SELF.
—Tiffany Ayuda, SELF, 14 Feb. 2024
Isabel Vasquez, Rd, Ldn, Parents, 4 Apr. 2024
What’s more, boosting your gut motility and moving the food out quickly can also help with heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), says Dr. Ganjhu—there’s simply less time for the digestive acids to do their thing.
—Lizzy Briskin, SELF, 29 Mar. 2024
How to prevent heartburn No matter how frequently one experiences it, there are several strategies for preventing heartburn.
—Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024
Health Conditions Sometimes halitosis can be a symptom of a health condition like heartburn, high blood pressure, or Sjogren's syndrome.
—Maria Masters, Health, 21 Aug. 2023
Milk of magnesia is a liquid antacid commonly used to treat heartburn and indigestion, but Dr. Palomo says applying a little bit on your sore can knock out some of that pain.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 18 Mar. 2024
Residents have raised concerns after experiencing similar symptoms to those during the 2021 contamination, such as rashes, headaches, heartburn and fatigue.
—Jeremy Yurow, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2024
Ginger is generally well tolerated but can occasionally cause heartburn or an upset stomach.
—Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024
The rapid effects of fluctuating pregnancy hormones can trigger symptoms like intense nausea, heartburn, and vomiting, Kamilah Dixon, MD, a clinical associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, tells SELF.
—Tiffany Ayuda, SELF, 14 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'heartburn.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near heartburn
Cite this Entry
“Heartburn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heartburn. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
heartburn
noun
heart·burn
-ˌbərn
: a burning discomfort seeming to occur in the area of the heart and usually due to spasms which pass acid from the stomach into the esophagus
Medical Definition
heartburn
noun
heart·burn
-ˌbərn
: a burning discomfort behind the lower part of the sternum due especially to the backward flow of the acidic contents of the stomach into the esophagus
called also cardialgia, pyrosis
see acid reflux compare water brashLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share