English Reference
Adjective

heartfelt

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈhɑɹtˌfɛɫt/ UK /hˈɑːtfɛlt/ heart·felt

adj.showing strong, honest, and sincere feelings. You use this to describe things like thanks, apologies, or speeches that come from the heart.

adj.sincere and deeply felt; expressing genuine emotion without pretense. Often used to describe communicative acts such as apologies, tributes, or expressions of gratitude.


SIMPLE

She gave a heartfelt speech at the wedding.

CONTEXTUAL

The charity received a heartfelt letter of thanks from a family they had helped during the winter.

COMPLEX

The actor’s heartfelt performance resonated with audiences, as he managed to convey a sense of profound loss without relying on overly dramatic gestures or dialogue.

Usage

Typically used attributively before a noun; often pairs with 'apology', 'thanks', 'plea', or 'tribute'.

Usage heartfelt sympathies

In a post on social media , external which gained thousands of responses from customers past and present, the family shared a "heartfelt thank you".

BBC News· 27 Aug 2026

She wouldn’t have slept well if she’d known this book was coming, but it’s an epic achievement and an honest, heartfelt account.

The Guardian· 27 Aug 2026

From heart + felt.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated