What does heartened mean?
Heartened means encouraged, reassured, or strengthened in courage and resolve. It is especially common in constructions such as “heartened by” or “feel heartened,” where it describes the effect of a success, message, or act of support: “The volunteers were heartened by the response.” The word can also appear as a verb form, as in “The news heartened him to continue.” Its tone is formal or literary rather than casual, and it carries a somewhat old-fashioned dignity that makes it more emphatic than encouraged. Although it may suggest renewed confidence, it does not necessarily mean that a difficult situation has become easy; the person may simply be more willing to face it. In everyday speech, “encouraged” or “bolstered” will often sound more natural. Heartened remains useful in writing when the intended sense is not merely “pleased” but “made stronger and more resolute.”
Having renewed courage, confidence, or resolve; encouraged or strengthened in purpose.
"She was heartened by the team's comeback."
Usually used predicatively, especially after be or feel, and common in formal or literary writing.
To encourage or embolden; to give someone greater courage or confidence.
"Their victory heartened the runners before the final race."
The simple past and past participle forms are literary and less common than the adjective use.
Heartened is when hope stiffens into resolve.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does heartened come from?
Heartened comes from the English verb hearten, formed in the early nineteenth century from heart plus the suffix -en. Hearten meant to give someone courage or confidence, and heartened developed as both its past participle and an adjective meaning “encouraged” or “strengthened in resolve.” The family belongs to the Germanic vocabulary associated with the heart; hearty, heartless, and heartache share that origin.
Related word forms
How heartened is actually used
Heartened has a formal to literary tone and is less common in everyday speech than encouraged. As an adjective, it is especially natural in predicative constructions such as “was heartened” or “felt heartened.” Its use as a verb is now relatively rare. There is no significant regional difference between standard British and American usage.
Easily confused with heartened
Heartened means encouraged or strengthened in confidence, whereas hardened means made tough or toughened, and can also mean becoming callous.