heart
A1Neutral (used across all registers, from formal to informal).
Definition
Meaning
The muscular organ in the chest that pumps blood through the circulatory system; often used figuratively to represent the centre of emotion, character, or the most important part.
Used to denote the centre or innermost part of something (e.g., the heart of the city); courage or enthusiasm (e.g., to have a lot of heart); emotional or moral nature (e.g., a kind heart); the essential or most vital part (e.g., the heart of the matter); the shape of a stylised heart (♥).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
While its primary meaning is anatomical, its most frequent uses in English are metaphorical. It sits at the centre of a vast network of idioms and figurative expressions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'At the heart of' is slightly more common in UK English; 'the heart of' is equally common in both. Spelling of related words differs per regional conventions (e.g., 'heartening' vs. 'heartening' - same spelling, different pronunciation).
Connotations
Identically strong positive connotations of emotion, sincerity, and centrality in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both varieties, with near-identical usage patterns.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have + a + ADJ + heart (have a kind heart)V + at the heart of + NP (lies at the heart of the debate)V + NP + by heart (learn the poem by heart)V + heart + ADJ (my heart sank)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “break someone's heart”
- “cross your heart”
- “eat your heart out”
- “have a change of heart”
- “have your heart in your mouth”
- “heart of stone”
- “in your heart of hearts”
- “my heart goes out to you”
- “pour your heart out”
- “wear your heart on your sleeve”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically: 'Our people are at the heart of our success.' 'We need to get to the heart of the supply chain issue.'
Academic
Used anatomically/physiologically and metaphorically for central concepts: 'The heart's sinoatrial node...' 'The heart of the philosophical argument concerns...'
Everyday
Most common: emotional and central meanings: 'I love you with all my heart.' 'The park is in the heart of the town.'
Technical
Primarily anatomical/medical (cardiology), also in mathematics (cardioid shape) and computer science (core processing unit metaphor).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The news heartened the team despite the loss.
American English
- She heartened her friend with words of support.
adverb
British English
- She loved him heart and soul.
- (Rare as a true adverb; typically in fixed phrases)
American English
- He threw himself heart and soul into the project.
adjective
British English
- It was a heartfelt apology.
- He suffered from heart-related issues.
American English
- She wrote a heartfelt letter.
- He has a history of heart disease.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I love my family with all my heart.
- The doctor listened to my heart.
- He drew a red heart on the card.
- The old city lies at the heart of the capital.
- She had a change of heart and decided to stay.
- Don't lose heart; you'll succeed next time.
- The report goes to the very heart of the institutional failure.
- His heart wasn't really in the performance.
- She knew in her heart of hearts that it was a mistake.
- The novel's protagonist is a man with a heart of gold but a tragic flaw.
- Their findings strike at the heart of the prevailing economic theory.
- Heartsick and weary, she faced the consequences of her decision.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HEART: Has Emotions And Rhythmic Ticking. Visualise a valentine's heart with a heartbeat line through it.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE HEART IS A CONTAINER FOR EMOTIONS (e.g., 'filled with joy', 'broken heart'). THE HEART IS THE CENTER OF THE SELF (e.g., 'from the bottom of my heart', 'know by heart').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Russian 'сердце' maps very closely, but English uses 'heart' in more fixed idioms (e.g., 'by heart' = наизусть, not 'by memory').
- Avoid translating 'learn by heart' word-for-word back into Russian as 'учить по сердцу'.
- In expressions of encouragement, English uses 'take heart' (ободрись), not 'take your heart'.
- The adjective 'heartful' is extremely rare/non-standard; use 'heartfelt' instead.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: "I learned it by my heart." Correct: "I learned it by heart."
- Incorrect: "He has a good heart." (when meaning 'He is good at understanding'). This is not idiomatic; 'good heart' means 'kind nature'.
- Incorrect: "My heart was broken from him." Correct: "My heart was broken by him." or "...because of him."
- Spelling confusion with 'hart' (a male deer).
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase means 'to memorize'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While often positive (love, courage), it's used for all strong emotions: 'heartache', 'heartbreak', 'heart-stopping fear', 'heart of darkness'.
'Hearty' suggests something enthusiastic, vigorous, or large (a hearty laugh, a hearty meal). 'Heartfelt' describes genuine, deep feeling (heartfelt condolences, a heartfelt wish).
Not commonly. The verb form 'to heart' (meaning to like/love) is very informal/internet slang. The related verb is 'to hearten' (to encourage).
It's a historical idiom reflecting the ancient concept of the heart as the seat of memory and intellect. 'Learn by memory' is understandable but less idiomatic.
Collections
Part of a collection
Body and Health
A1 · 49 words · Parts of the body and basic health vocabulary.
Health and Body
A2 · 48 words · Talking about health, illness and medical care.