downhearted

IPA/ˌdaʊnˈhɑːtɪd/
IPA/ˌdaʊnˈhɑːrtɪd/

downhearted — adjective

  • downheartedpositive
  • more downheartedcomparative
  • most downheartedsuperlative

1. feeling very sad and without hope, especially after something you were working t

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

feeling very sad and without hope, especially after something you were working towards has not succeeded

Example

After failing the exam for the third time, Lotte felt too downhearted to try again.

downhearted + to-infinitive after feeling adjective

The team was downhearted when their project lost its funding at the last minute.

downhearted when + clause — common time structure

Common collocations
  • feel downhearted
  • look downhearted
  • sound downhearted
  • seem downhearted
  • become downhearted
  • downhearted about
Synonyms
  • discouraged

    more about losing motivation or confidence; less emotional weight than downhearted

  • dejected

    more formal and literary; emphasises a sad, low mood

  • disheartened

    very similar in meaning; slightly more formal and often suggests a loss of courage

Antonyms
  • cheerful

    opposite emotional state — happy and full of hope

  • hopeful

    opposite in terms of outlook — expecting positive outcomes

Grammar Patterns

feel/look/sound/seem/become + downhearted

downhearted + about + noun

Usage Note

Frequently used with linking verbs such as feel, look, sound, seem, or become to describe someone's emotional state after a disappointment. Also common in attributive position before a noun (a downhearted expression, a downhearted team).

Common Mistakes

I felt downhearted when I won the lottery.
I felt downhearted when I lost my job.
downhearted describes sadness and hopelessness, not any strong emotion.
She was downhearted for her friend's success.
She was downhearted about her friend's departure.
use downhearted about + cause, not downhearted for + person.

Word family

  • downheartedly
    adverbC2
  • downheartedness
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe a sad emotional state after something goes wrong, but they differ in emphasis. Discouraged focuses on losing the motivation or confidence to continue — you might be discouraged after a setback at work. Dejected is more about the visible signs of sadness: slumped shoulders, a quiet voice, a gloomy mood; it is common in literary and descriptive writing. Disheartened is the closest synonym to downhearted and means your spirit or courage has been weakened — for example, disheartened by constant criticism from a boss. Crestfallen is the most specific: it describes the sudden, visible disappointment when a hope or expectation is shattered, like a child who was sure they would win and then didn't. Use downhearted when the feeling includes both sadness and a sense of hopelessness about the future.

discouraged ↗dejected ↗disheartened ↗crestfallen ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • downhearted expression
  • downhearted team
  • downhearted voice
  • downhearted mood

Adverbs

  • very downhearted
  • deeply downhearted
  • visibly downhearted
  • slightly downhearted

Phrases

  • feel downhearted
  • look downhearted
  • become downhearted
  • seem downhearted

Prepositions

  • downhearted about
  • downhearted at
  • downhearted by

Etymology

English

Formed in English in the mid-18th century by combining down (meaning 'low in spirits') and hearted (from heart, the traditional seat of emotions and courage). The idea is that your 'heart' — your emotional centre — has been lowered or brought down by disappointment.

First known use

1742

1742, in the meaning defined above