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

Your vote for me in this General Election was not against someone, but a demand that California becomes the heartbeat of America again. —Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Orange County Register, 5 Nov. 2024

The cloud has become the heartbeat of our operations, where sensitive data lives and where our teams collaborate seamlessly. —Anshu Bansal, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

Irregular heart rhythms: Medically known as arrhythmia, irregular heartbeats can sometimes cause the heart to work less effectively, potentially leading to heart failure. —Alexandria Nyembwe, Phd, Rn, Health, 4 Nov. 2024

This device uses a balloon that's placed in the aorta, inflating and deflating with each heartbeat to enhance blood flow. —Christopher Lee, Verywell Health, 30 Oct. 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