Word
heartbreaker
Phoneticsheart·break·er
UK/hˈɑːtbɹeɪkɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a person who makes someone fall in love and then leaves them feeling sad and disappointed. You often hear it in songs and stories about love.
n. a person who causes romantic disappointment by ending a relationship or failing to return affection; often extended to a highly attractive person whose charm invites such attachment.
Examples
“He has a reputation as a real heartbreaker in school.”
“She avoids dating the new guitarist because everyone says he is a heartbreaker who never calls back.”
“The novel's central heartbreaker charms every character he meets, leaving a trail of unsent letters and half-finished conversations that reveal his fear of commitment.”
Examples
simple
“He has a reputation as a real heartbreaker in school.”
contextual
“She avoids dating the new guitarist because everyone says he is a heartbreaker who never calls back.”
complex
“The novel's central heartbreaker charms every character he meets, leaving a trail of unsent letters and half-finished conversations that reveal his fear of commitment.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “heartbreaker” in context.
Verb
01. avoid heartbreaker
“My friends told me to avoid that heartbreaker at all costs.”
verb + noun
02. date heartbreaker
“She promised herself she would never date a heartbreaker again.”
verb + noun
03. fall for heartbreaker
“She didn't want to fall for another heartbreaker this summer.”
verb + prep + noun
04. heartbreaker cheats
“In the film, the heartbreaker cheats and then pretends nothing happened.”
noun + verb
05. heartbreaker leaves
“The heartbreaker leaves without saying goodbye or explaining why.”
noun + verb
06. heartbreaker returns
“In the final song, the heartbreaker returns to ask for forgiveness.”
noun + verb
Adjective
07. charming heartbreaker
“He played a charming heartbreaker who never stayed in one town.”
adj + noun
08. classic heartbreaker
“He's a classic heartbreaker who sends flowers and then disappears.”
adj + noun
09. a real heartbreaker
“Don't trust Tom — he's a real heartbreaker.”
10. a total heartbreaker
“With that smile and those songs, he's a total heartbreaker.”
11. fall for a heartbreaker
“I can't believe she fell for a heartbreaker like him again.”
12. known as a heartbreaker
“He is widely known as a heartbreaker on campus.”
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/heartbreaker