# heartburn

/ˈhɑɹtˌbɝn/ (US) · /hˈɑːtbɜːn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/heartburn
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. chest pain from acid

noun · CEFR B1

a painful, burning feeling in your chest or throat that happens after eating, caused by stomach acid.

For teachers: a burning sensation in the chest or throat caused by the reflux of gastric acid into the oesophagus.

- He often gets heartburn if he eats spicy food late at night.
- The patient reported chronic heartburn that worsened when lying down, suggesting a possible issue with the lower oesophageal sphincter.

### 2. annoyance or distress

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a feeling of great worry, sadness, or annoyance about a situation.

For teachers: a state of persistent irritation, resentment, or emotional distress regarding a specific issue.

- The new tax laws caused a lot of heartburn for small business owners.
- The proposed merger caused considerable heartburn among the board members, who feared a loss of corporate identity.

## Examples

- I have a lot of heartburn after eating that spicy pizza.
- The doctor suggested he avoid eating large meals late at night to prevent heartburn from waking him up.
- While occasional heartburn is common and usually harmless, frequent episodes can indicate a more serious underlying condition that requires medical intervention.

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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.