sweetheart

American  

[sweet-hahrt] / ˈswitˌhɑrt /

noun

1. either of a pair of lovers in relation to the other.

2. (sometimes initial capital letter) an affectionate or familiar term of address.

3. a beloved person.

4. Informal. a generous, friendly person.

5. Informal. anything that arouses loyal affection.

   My old car was a real sweetheart.

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sweetheart British  

/ ˈswiːtˌhɑːt /

noun

1. a person loved by another

2. informal a lovable, generous, or obliging person

3. a term of endearment for a beloved or lovable person

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adjective

1. of or relating to a garment with a sweetheart neckline

   sweetheart cardigan

Etymology

Origin of sweetheart

First recorded in 1250–1300, sweetheart is from Middle English swete herte. See sweet, heart

Example Sentences

The example is from Ozu’s 1929 “Days of Youth,” in which a suitor gets paint on his hand, knows it, and gets panicky trying to hide it from his would-be sweetheart.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

The 41-year-old is raising money for charity in memory of his childhood sweetheart, Anneka, who was 33 when she died in 2019.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026

Now that her children are grown, Kaczmarek has recently entered a new phase of life, newly married to her high school sweetheart, with whom she reconnected during their 50th high school reunion.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

He had two sons from his first marriage to his high school sweetheart Dianne Holechek, which lasted 30 years, and a son and a daughter with his second wife Gena O'Kelley.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

“Oh, sweetheart, I know it’s difficult being out of school, but believe me, you will be fine one day, and then you will go back to being a regular kid.”

From "Lucky Broken Girl" by Ruth Behar

Related Words

• boyfriend
• companion
• darling
• girlfriend
• heartthrob
• lover