heartening

/ˈhɑːtnɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhɑːrtnɪŋ/ (ame, ipa)

heartening — adjective

  • hearteningpositive
  • more hearteningcomparative
  • most hearteningsuperlative

1. causing someone to feel encouraged and more hopeful, especially when the situati

1.形容詞B2
釋義

causing someone to feel encouraged and more hopeful, especially when the situation had previously seemed uncertain or difficult

例句

It was heartening to learn that the missing hikers had been found safe.

dummy 'it' + infinitive: 'it was heartening to learn/hear/see'

Mei received heartening news when the doctor said her father's operation had gone well.

collocation: heartening news

同義詞
  • encouraging

    the most common and general synonym; can describe both people and situations

  • uplifting

    slightly more emotional, suggesting a rise in spirits

  • promising

    focuses on future success rather than current emotional lift

  • cheering

    more informal; suggests immediate happiness rather than deep hope

反義詞

文法句型

it + be + heartening + to-infinitive

be + heartening (that-clause)

heartening + noun (attributive)

用法筆記

Common with dummy-it constructions and with nouns like 'news', 'sign', 'development', or 'result'. Less commonly used to describe people directly; it typically describes events, news, or situations.

常見錯誤

❌The charity's work was very heartwarming' (when the speaker means it gave hope).
✅The charity's work was very heartening.
💡'heartwarming' emphasises emotional warmth from kindness; 'heartening' focuses on renewed hope and encouragement.
❌She is a very heartening person.
✅She gave a very heartening speech.
💡The adjective usually describes words, events, or results, not a person's character.