What does hearten mean?
Hearten means to encourage or strengthen someone’s confidence, hope, or determination. The word can be used transitively, as in “the victory heartened the team,” or intransitively, as in “she heartened after receiving their support.” It is more formal than everyday alternatives such as “cheer up,” but its slightly old-fashioned character gives it a warm, emphatic tone. Heartening often describes news, words, or events that restore optimism or reassure someone that help or improvement is possible. Although it is now associated mainly with encouragement, its history connects it directly with the idea of the heart as the source of courage and emotional strength. The word is especially useful when encouragement involves renewed confidence rather than simple amusement. For example, “heartening progress” suggests developments that give people hope, while “hearten the troops” evokes encouragement before a difficult undertaking. Hearten also serves as the source of related forms such as “heartened,” “heartening,” and “heartener.”
verbTo make someone feel more cheerful, confident, or hopeful; encourage. It can also be used intransitively to describe a person becoming more hopeful or resolute.
- To make someone feel more cheerful, confident, or hopeful.
- To become more cheerful, confident, or hopeful.
"The unexpected victory heartened the team before the final race."
"Her encouraging words heartened the weary climbers."
"She heartened as she read the letters of support from friends."
Hearten began with the heart—not romance, but the seat of courage and resolve.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of hearten
Hearten was recorded in Middle English in the early 14th century and was formed from Old English heorte, meaning “heart,” with the verbal suffix -en. Its original sense was to give courage or confidence. The word belongs to the Germanic and Indo-European tradition associated with notions of the heart as the centre of feeling and bravery; English cognates include hearty, while cordial and courage reflect the broader Latin Indo-European word for “heart.”
Related word forms
How hearten is actually used
Hearten is formal but widely understood. It often implies restoring confidence, hope, or determination and may be used transitively or intransitively; in contemporary use, “to hearten” is more common than “to be heartened.”
Easily confused with hearten
To hearten someone is to encourage or restore their confidence, whereas to harden someone or something is to make it tougher or less susceptible to damage.