# heartbreak

/ˈhɑɹtˌbɹeɪk/ (US) · /hˈɑːtbɹeɪk/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/heartbreak
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

a feeling of very deep sadness and pain. You usually feel this when a relationship ends or when you lose someone you love.

For teachers: overwhelming distress or sorrow, typically resulting from the end of a romantic relationship or the loss of a loved one.

## Examples

- It took her months to recover from the heartbreak of the breakup.
- The movie captures the quiet heartbreak of a family forced to leave their home during the war.
- While time eventually dulls the sharpest edges of heartbreak, the memory of such profound loss often leaves a permanent mark on one's emotional landscape.

## Usage notes

- Uncountable when referring to the general state of sorrow; countable when referring to a specific instance or event.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.