Definition

A person, often a celebrity, who is very attractive and causes strong feelings of love or admiration in others.

Example

The young actor became a heartthrob after his role in the romantic movie.

Conversation

Did you see the new movie with that heartthrob actor?

Yeah, he was great! Everyone's talking about him.

I can see why; he really knows how to capture the audience's attention.

Totally! It's hard not to have a little crush on a heartthrob like him.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Heartthrob is formed from "heart" (from Old English "heorte", meaning the organ that pumps blood and is often associated with emotions) and "throb" (from Old English "þrobbian", meaning to beat or pulsate). The word "heartthrob" refers to someone who causes a strong emotional response or excitement, often in a romantic context, akin to the feeling of one's heart beating rapidly.

Memory Tip

Think of the 'heart' as the center of emotions and 'throb' as the beating sensation — together, they describe someone who makes your heart race with excitement.

Visually Confused Words