heart
22 synonyms and 0 antonyms for heart, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The muscular organ that pumps blood through the body, traditionally seen as the seat of emotion.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use heart
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English heorte, an ancient Indo-European word for "heart"; the figurative "to love" sense of the verb only dates to the 1977 "I ❤ NY" ad campaign.
Full origin of heart →Frequently asked questions
What does “heart” mean?
The word “heart” means the muscular organ that pumps blood through the body, traditionally seen as the seat of emotion. In plain terms, the organ that pumps blood, and by extension, a person's emotions, courage, or the core of something.
How do you pronounce “heart”?
“Heart” is pronounced haht (/hɑɹt/ in IPA).
How do you use “heart” in a sentence?
Here is “heart” used in a sentence: “Her heart raced as she waited for the results.”
What part of speech is “heart”?
Depending on how it is used, “heart” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “heart” come from?
The word “heart” dates back to around 1977 and comes from Old English. From Old English heorte, an ancient Indo-European word for "heart"; the figurative "to love" sense of the verb only dates to the 1977 "I ❤ NY" ad campaign.
Is “heart” a common word?
“Heart” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “heart” have?
“Heart” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the muscular organ that pumps blood through the body, traditionally seen as the seat of emotion.
What does the heart do?
The heart is a muscular organ, roughly the size of a fist, that pumps blood around the body. Its steady beating pushes oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood out to the tissues and returns used blood to the lungs to be refreshed. Without this constant circulation, the body's cells could not survive.
How many chambers does the human heart have?
The human heart has four chambers: two upper chambers called atria and two lower chambers called ventricles. The right side pumps blood to the lungs to collect oxygen, and the left side pumps that oxygen-rich blood out to the rest of the body. Valves keep the blood flowing one way.
Why is the heart linked to emotion?
For centuries people believed the heart was the seat of feeling, love and courage, partly because strong emotions make it race. Science shows emotions actually arise in the brain, but the old association survives everywhere in language — a 'broken heart,' a 'kind heart,' or learning something 'by heart.'
What is an example of 'heart' used figuratively?
Beyond the organ, heart stands for emotion, character or the centre of something: 'she has a warm heart,' 'he put his heart into the work,' 'the heart of the city,' or 'know it by heart.' These uses draw on the old idea of the heart as the core of a person.