heartbeat

noun

heart·​beat ˈhärt-ˌbēt 

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

• beat
• eyeblink
• flash
• instant
• jiff
• jiffy
• minute
• moment
• nanosecond
• New York minute
• second
• shake
• split second
• trice
• twinkle
• twinkling
• wink

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

If your heart is more adaptable, there will be more variance in the milliseconds between heartbeats. —Allison Tsai, Verywell Health, 5 May 2025

And now Orjan’s son, Patrick Berg, is the heartbeat of this Bodo/Glimt side, the most successful in history, winners of four of the last five Norwegian Eliteserien titles. —Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025

At the center of those components is the heartbeat of any transformation: Nurture Change. —Mamie Jones, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025

Walking Faster Improves Health in Multiple Ways In addition to decreasing irregular heartbeat risks, steady and brisk walking was also connected to other improvements in overall health compared with leisurely walking. —Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 16 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing heartbeat

• heartbeat law
• in a heartbeat

Rhymes for heartbeat

• amit
• athlete
• backseat
• blackfeet
• broadsheet
• browbeat
• buckwheat
• compete
• compleat
• complete
• conceit
• concrete

Kids Definition

heartbeat

noun

heart·​beat ˈhärt-ˌbēt 

: a single contracting and expanding of the heart

Medical Definition

heartbeat

noun

heart·​beat ˈhärt-ˌbēt 

: one complete pulsation of the heart