heartbroken
Heartbroken (adj) means Overwhelmed with grief, especially after a relationship ends or a loss occurs. Example: “She was heartbroken when her boyfriend left without any explanation.”
How to use heartbroken
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDevastated, usually by lost love or a painful loss.
Word forms
- Comparative
- more heartbroken
- Superlative
- most heartbroken
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She was _____ when her boyfriend left without any explanation.
Etymology
From "heart" + "broken" — the heart pictured as literally shattered by grief.