Memes dictionary
Heart Rate Meme
[hahrt reyt meem]
What does Heart Rate Meme mean?
Going viral on Twitter in April 2019, the Heart Rate Meme uses ASCII computer characters to illustrate a normal heart rate followed by an elevated heart rate. The elevated heart rate is meant as a humorous observation of something that excites someone or makes them anxious.
Where does Heart Rate Meme come from?
![](https://www.dictionary.com/e/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/20200508_memes_heart_800x800-300x300.jpg)
The Heart Rate Meme imitates the periodic spikes of an electrocardiogram out of characters on a keyboard. The first is meant as a normal heart rate and is introduced by some version of the phrase “normal rate heart.” The second, showing more frequent spikes and introduced my some version of the phrase “(my) heart rate when (rousing or agitating situation),” is in response to some situation that makes a person’s heart rate go up.
Let’s see the meme in action, from yours truly:
normal heart rate:
⠀ /⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ /
__ / __/__ / _
/⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ /when you spot the typo:
⠀/⠀ /⠀ /
_/ /_/ /_/ /_
⠀ /⠀⠀ /⠀⠀ /— Dictionary.com (@Dictionarycom) April 8, 2019
In 2011, the Twitter account @LMAOTeenThings posted an early version of what came to be called the Heart Rate Meme. (A similar, earlier example was founded on Twitter in December 2010.) The cause of the heart rate spike here? Being with someone you like. Aww, so wholesome.
My Normal Heart Rate: __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ __/ My Heart Rate when I'm With you: _/_/_//_/_/_//_/_/ #LMAOTeenThings
— LMAOTeenThings♂♀™ (@LMAOTeenThings) January 1, 2011
The meme began remerging in January 2019, then took off that April (and earned its name Heart Rate Meme) when the Twitter account for the popular TV thriller Killing Eve posted a Heart Rate Meme in anticipation of the premiere of the show’s second season.
Our normal heart rate:
/ /
__/ __/__/ _
/ /Our heart rate when #KillingEve starts in 1 minute:
/ / /
_/ /_/ /_/ /_
/ / /— Killing Eve on BBCAmerica (@KillingEve) April 7, 2019
Twitter itself took notice of the meme and created their own, citing, once again, a crush sliding into the DMs (direct messages) as the reason for an accelerated heart rate. It earned 79,000 likes and helped make it viral. The Heart Rate Meme became got so popular in 2019 popular publications like Mashable and Bustle explained it.
Normal heart rate:
⠀ /⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ /
__ / __/__ / _
/⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ /When your crush slides into your DMs:
⠀/⠀ /⠀ /
_/ /_/ /_/ /_
⠀ /⠀⠀ /⠀⠀ /— Twitter (@Twitter) April 8, 2019
Examples of Heart Rate Meme
![](https://www.dictionary.com/e/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Heart-Rate-Meme-2-300x247.png)
![](https://www.dictionary.com/e/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Heart-Rate-Meme-300x200.png)
Who uses Heart Rate Meme?
The meme is generally used as a clever or funny way to describe things that make you excited or anxious, including matters concerning school, work, social life, technology, and embarrassing situations.
normal heart rate:
⠀ /⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ /
__ / __/__ / _
/⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ /when you cant feel your phone in your pocket:
⠀/⠀ /⠀ /
_/ /_/ /_/ /_
⠀ /⠀⠀ /⠀⠀ /— you’re so relate (@youresorelate) April 9, 2019
Official Twitter accounts for corporations, sports teams, and retailers especially took to the Heart Rate Meme, tailoring it to their businesses.
Normal heart rate:
⠀ /⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ /
__ / __/__ / __
/⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ /Every 4th quarter of a #Panthers game:
⠀/⠀ /⠀ /
_/ /_/ /_/ /_
⠀ /⠀⠀ /⠀⠀ /— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) April 8, 2019
Twitter users came up with clever takes on the Heart Rate Meme, including showing a flatline, as if a person was “dead.”
normal heart rate:
⠀ /⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ /
__ / __/__ / _
/⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ /when you open the exam paper and can’t even answer the 1st question:
—————————
— zenab👼🏻 (@_zenab_x) April 8, 2019
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of Heart Rate Meme like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of Heart Rate Meme that will help our users expand their word mastery.