noun
Uncommon
heartbreak
HAHT-brayk
Heartbreak (noun) means Intense sadness or grief, especially after losing someone or something you loved deeply. Example: “He never fully recovered from the heartbreak of his first divorce.”
noun
1
Intense sadness or grief, especially after losing someone or something you loved deeply.
"He never fully recovered from the heartbreak of his first divorce."
"Losing the family home caused real heartbreak for everyone."
How to use heartbreak
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCrushing emotional pain, most often linked to lost love.
Common pairings
cause heartbreak
the heartbreak of losing
spare her the heartbreak
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Word forms
- Plural
- heartbreaks
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He never fully recovered from the _____ of his first divorce.
Etymology
A compound of "heart" and "break," picturing grief as literally shattering the heart — a very old and universal metaphor across languages.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for heartbreak
See all rhymes for heartbreak →Frequently asked questions
What does “heartbreak” mean?
The word “heartbreak” means intense sadness or grief, especially after losing someone or something you loved deeply. In plain terms, crushing emotional pain, most often linked to lost love.
How do you pronounce “heartbreak”?
“Heartbreak” is pronounced HAHT-brayk (/ˈhɑɹt.bɹeɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “heartbreak” in a sentence?
Here is “heartbreak” used in a sentence: “He never fully recovered from the heartbreak of his first divorce.”
What part of speech is “heartbreak”?
“Heartbreak” is a noun.
Is “heartbreak” a common word?
“Heartbreak” is an uncommon word in modern English.
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