# sweetheart

/ˈswitˌhɑɹt/ (US) · /swˈiːthɑːt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sweetheart
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. romantic partner

noun · CEFR B1

someone you are in a romantic relationship with, especially when you are young.

For teachers: a person with whom one is in a romantic relationship, often used to describe a first or youthful love.

- They were high school sweethearts and eventually got married ten years later.
- The novel explores the lives of two childhood sweethearts who are separated by the war and struggle to find their way back to one another.

### 2. term of endearment

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a friendly name you use when talking to a person you love or like.

For teachers: a term of endearment used to address a romantic partner, a child, or occasionally a stranger in a friendly manner.

- Don't worry, sweetheart, we will find your lost toy in the morning.
- The elderly shopkeeper often addressed her regular customers as sweetheart, a habit that reflected her warm and welcoming nature.

### 3. a kind person

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a person who is very kind, helpful, and nice to everyone.

For teachers: an exceptionally kind, generous, or agreeable person.

- Your brother is such a sweetheart for helping me move all those heavy boxes.
- Everyone in the office agreed that the new manager was a total sweetheart, always taking the time to listen to her employees' concerns.

## Examples

- She is such a sweetheart for helping me move.
- The elderly couple had been sweethearts since they met in high school sixty years ago.

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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.