heartbeat

noun

heart·​beat ˈhärt-ˌbēt 

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

Synonyms

• beat
• eyeblink
• flash
• instant
• jiff
• jiffy
• minute
• moment
• nanosecond
• New York minute
• second
• shake
• split second
• trice
• twinkle
• twinkling
• wink

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

Symptoms of panic or anxiety can include chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating, and a fast heartbeat. —Carisa Brewster, Verywell Health, 9 Dec. 2024

The whole track flutters with ecstasy, especially the racing, clubby drum track, racing like a heartbeat. —Alex Suskind, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2024

This has occurred, ProPublica found, even in cases like Porsha’s where there isn’t a fetal heartbeat or the circumstances should fall under an exception in the law. —Lizzie Presser, ProPublica, 25 Nov. 2024

That data showed not just Riley's location, but her speed of running and her rate of heartbeat, Wesley Durkit, a UGA Police Department IT security analyst, testified. —Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing heartbeat

• heartbeat law
• in a heartbeat

Kids Definition

heartbeat

noun

heart·​beat ˈhärt-ˌbēt 

: a single contracting and expanding of the heart

Medical Definition

heartbeat

noun

heart·​beat ˈhärt-ˌbēt 

: one complete pulsation of the heart