hearty

[ hahr-tee ]

adjective

, heart·i·er, heart·i·est.

1. warm-hearted; affectionate; cordial; jovial:

   a hearty welcome.

2. genuine; sincere; heartfelt:

   hearty approval; hearty dislike.

3. completely devoted; wholehearted:

   hearty support.

4. exuberant; unrestrained:

   hearty laughter.

5. violent; forceful:

   a hearty push; a hearty kick.

6. physically vigorous; strong and well:

   hale and hearty.

7. substantial; abundant; nourishing:

   a hearty meal.

8. enjoying or requiring abundant food:

   a hearty appetite.

9. (of soil) fertile.

noun

, Archaic.

, plural heart·ies.

1. a brave or good fellow, especially with reference to a shipmate.
2. a sailor.

hearty

/ ˈhɑːtɪ /

adjective

1. warm and unreserved in manner or behaviour
2. vigorous and enthusiastic

   a hearty slap on the back

3. sincere and heartfelt

   hearty dislike

4. healthy and strong (esp in the phrase hale and hearty )
5. substantial and nourishing

noun

1. a comrade, esp a sailor
2. a vigorous sporting man

   a rugby hearty

Derived Forms

• ˈheartiness, noun

Other Words From

• hearti·ness noun
• over·hearti·ness noun
• over·hearty adjective
• quasi-hearty adjective
• super·hearti·ness noun
• super·hearty adjective
• un·hearty adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hearty¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, hearty is from the Middle English word herti. See heart, -y ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see hale and hearty .

Example Sentences

"Hearty" and "fondly" stand out to me, given how anodyne and bland these statements so often are.

From BBC

Famous fans of the hearty meal include David Beckham, actor Danny Dyer, and comedians Arthur Smith and Rob Beckett.

From BBC

If that’s not your speed, Siam Station is a beloved local Thai street food spot where you can tuck into a hearty pad thai or khao soi, while Helmsman Ale House has fish and chips, wings and a short rib sandwich.

From Los Angeles Times

My curiosity had been piqued earlier this year, after Spirit got a hearty endorsement from an unlikely source: a federal judge.

From Slate

A mother and her two young children have been gruesomely killed, their bodies placed upright at a formal table laden with a hearty meal.

From Salon

Related Words

• cheery
• cordial
• ebullient
• exuberant
• generous
• genial
• genuine
• heartfelt
• passionate
• sincere
• warm