heartbeat

noun

heart·​beat ˈhärt-ˌbēt How to pronounce heartbeat (audio)
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

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 At her prenatal checkups, the midwife heard one strong heartbeat. Wendy Grossman Kantor, Peoplemag, 28 Feb. 2024 In today's dynamic landscape of marketing, where innovation is the heartbeat of success, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has quickly become an indispensable instrument for business leaders focused on stimulating experimentation, fueling innovation and propelling business growth. Sunshine Farzan, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024 My wife 'is the heartbeat' of our charity Who does Kesha like for the Super Bowl? USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 Diastolic — the bottom number — is the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats. Linda Carroll, NBC News, 12 Feb. 2024 The average human heartbeat seems sluggish by comparison, beating only 60 to 100 times per minute. Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 8 Feb. 2024 Protect your cash flow Cash flow is the heartbeat of your business. Melissa Houston, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Wander the Centro Histórico to feel the heartbeat of Mérida's culture and history. Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 20 Feb. 2024 Besides that, Dre’s the heartbeat of our defense, Fred and him. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'heartbeat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of heartbeat was in 1850

Dictionary Entries Near heartbeat

Cite this Entry

“Heartbeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heartbeat. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

heartbeat

noun
heart·​beat ˈhärt-ˌbēt How to pronounce heartbeat (audio)
: a single contracting and expanding of the heart

Medical Definition

heartbeat

noun
heart·​beat ˈhärt-ˌbēt How to pronounce heartbeat (audio)
: one complete pulsation of the heart

More from Merriam-Webster on heartbeat

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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