Definition

1. Verb (transitive, idiomatic):
   • To cause someone to feel intense emotional pain, sadness, or grief, typically as a result of ending a romantic relationship, betraying trust, or causing profound disappointment.

Usage

• This phrase is used to describe causing severe emotional distress to another person. It is most commonly associated with romantic disappointment but can apply to any situation involving deep personal betrayal or loss.
• It is a figurative expression; it describes emotional, not physical, pain.
• The object of the action (the person who is hurt) is placed between "break" and "heart" (e.g., break heart, break heart).

Examples

• Verb:
  • He broke her heart when he ended their engagement.
  • It would break my heart to see this historic building demolished.
  • The child's constant lying is starting to break his mother's heart.

Advanced Usage

• "to have one's heart broken": This is the passive form, describing the experience of the person who suffers the emotional pain.
  • She had her heart broken when her best friend moved away.
• The phrase can be used in a more general, non-romantic sense to describe causing deep disappointment.
  • The team's loss in the final broke the hearts of their loyal fans.

Variants and Related Words

• Heartbreak (n): The state of intense grief or disappointment.
  • She experienced great heartbreak after the divorce.
• Heartbroken (adj): Overwhelmed by grief or disappointment.
  • The heartbroken parents searched for their missing child.

Synonyms

• Devastate
• Crush
• Hurt deeply
• Wound emotionally

Related Phrases

• Tear someone apart: To cause someone great emotional pain.
  • The bitter argument tore the family apart.
• Let someone down: To disappoint someone, often used for less severe situations than "break someone's heart."
  • I promised to help, and I don't want to let you down.

Verb

1. cause deep emotional pain and grief to somebody
   • The young man broke the girl's heart when he told her was going to marry her best friend