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

Empathy is the heartbeat of every meaningful relationship. —Mark Travers, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025

According to the Mayo Clinic, arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat that happens when the heart's electrical signals don’t work properly. —Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025

Just standing up sends her pulse racing, the heart monitor in her Apple Watch warning of a dangerously erratic heartbeat. —Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2025

The comedic heartbeat of the film is maintained by Julia Fox, Saweetie and Benito Skinner, who play the show-within-a-film’s judges panel. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 14 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing heartbeat

• heartbeat law
• in a heartbeat

Rhymes for heartbeat

• amit
• athlete
• backseat
• blackfeet
• broadsheet
• browbeat
• buckwheat
• compete
• compleat
• complete
• conceit
• concrete

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