noun
heartburn
HAHT-burn
Heartburn (noun) means a burning sensation in the chest caused by stomach acid rising into the throat. Example: “Spicy food always gives him terrible heartburn.”
noun
1
A burning sensation in the chest caused by stomach acid rising into the throat.
"Spicy food always gives him terrible heartburn."
"She took an antacid to ease the heartburn after dinner."
2
Informal: annoyance, worry, or resentment.
"The new policy has caused a lot of heartburn among staff."
How to use heartburn
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA burning feeling in the chest after eating, or (informally) irritation and stress.
Common mistake
Heartburn is not related to the heart medically — it's a digestive issue caused by acid reflux.
Common pairings
suffer from heartburn
cause heartburn
chronic heartburn
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Word forms
- Plural
- heartburns
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Spicy food always gives him terrible _____.
Etymology
From Middle English words for "heart" and "burn" — the sensation sits near where the heart is, even though it's actually caused by stomach acid.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “heartburn” mean?
The word “heartburn” means a burning sensation in the chest caused by stomach acid rising into the throat. In plain terms, a burning feeling in the chest after eating, or (informally) irritation and stress.
How do you pronounce “heartburn”?
“Heartburn” is pronounced HAHT-burn (/ˈhɑɹtˌbɝn/ in IPA).
How do you use “heartburn” in a sentence?
Here is “heartburn” used in a sentence: “Spicy food always gives him terrible heartburn.”
What part of speech is “heartburn”?
“Heartburn” is a noun.
Where does the word “heartburn” come from?
The word “heartburn” comes from Middle English. From Middle English words for "heart" and "burn" — the sensation sits near where the heart is, even though it's actually caused by stomach acid.
How many meanings does “heartburn” have?
“Heartburn” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a burning sensation in the chest caused by stomach acid rising into the throat.
