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Synonyms

throb

American  
[throb] / θrɒb /

verb (used without object)

throbbed, throbbing

  1. to beat with increased force or rapidity, as the heart under the influence of emotion or excitement; palpitate.

  2. to feel or exhibit emotion.

    He throbbed at the happy thought.

  3. to pulsate; vibrate.

    The cello throbbed.

noun

  1. the act of throbbing.

  2. a violent beat or pulsation, as of the heart.

  3. any pulsation or vibration.

    the throb of engines.
throb British  
/ θrɒb /

verb

  1. to pulsate or beat repeatedly, esp with increased force

    to throb with pain

  2. (of engines, drums, etc) to have a strong rhythmic vibration or beat

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the act or an instance of throbbing, esp a rapid pulsation as of the heart

    a throb of pleasure
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See pulsate.

Other Word Forms

  • outthrob verb (used with object)
  • throbber noun
  • throbbing adjective
  • throbbingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of throb

First recorded in 1325–75; unattested Middle English throbben, implied in present participle throbbant “throbbing”; further origin unknown

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.