heartthrob

noun

heart·​throb ˈhärt-ˌthräb 

1

: the throb of a heart

2

a

: sentimental emotion : passion

b

: sweetheart

also : a usually renowned man (such as an entertainer) noted for his sex appeal

teen heartthrobs

Examples of heartthrob in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The director Elia Kazan took a stab, in 1955, by retooling just the final chapters as an angsty star vehicle for the teen heartthrob James Dean. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 1 Oct. 2026

As Edward Cullen, a vampire blessed with brooding, Byronic good looks, Pattinson captivated audiences, becoming a heartthrob for a rising generation of moviegoers. — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 27 Sep. 2026

Lowe was then a teen heartthrob who’d performed with Snow White. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2026

Harry Styles first played Madison Square Garden at 18, as a heartthrob in a little pop quintet called One Direction. — Michelle Ruiz, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for heartthrob

• kebab
• nawab
• blob
• bob
• cob
• daub
• fob
• glob
• gob
• hob
• job
• knob

Kids Definition

heartthrob

noun

heart·​throb -ˌthräb 

1

: the throb of a heart

2

: a sentimental emotion : passion

b

: sweetheart

also : an attractive and usually famous man