: of, relating to, or performed on a heart temporarily stopped and relieved of circulatory function and surgically opened for repair of defects or damage
open-heart surgery

Examples of open-heart in a Sentence

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.
Before the operation, Austin had to outline the risks of open-heart surgery to Bishop. Tom Burrows, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025 Ben Lerner on open-heart surgery. Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025 Nelson, an accomplished heart surgeon who performed Utah's first open-heart surgery in 1955 and helped develop an artificial heart and lung apparatus, became a full-time church leader in 1984. Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025 In January 2023, The Challenge star shared that Maya was discharged from the hospital after having her first open-heart surgery earlier that month. Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for open-heart

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of open-heart was in 1959

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Cite this Entry

“Open-heart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/open-heart. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

open-heart

adjective
: of, relating to, or done on a heart temporarily stopped and surgically opened for repair of defects or damage
open-heart surgery

Medical Definition

open-heart

adjective
: of, relating to, or performed on a heart temporarily stopped and relieved of circulatory function and surgically opened for repair of defects or damage
open-heart surgery
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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