Meaning & use
openhearted
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparableapproving
Kind and generous, willing to share feelings and help others without hiding anything.
Grammar: Gradable: you can say 'more openhearted' or 'very openhearted'. Used before a noun or after 'be'.
Patterns
- be openhearted
- an openhearted person
- openhearted generosity
Her openhearted welcome made everyone feel at home.
He is openhearted and always ready to listen to a friend in trouble.
The openhearted way she shared her own struggles helped others speak up.
adjectivecomparableapproving
Showing honest and sincere feelings, without trying to hide them.
Grammar: Gradable; often used to describe actions, words, or expressions as well as people.
Patterns
- an openhearted response
- openhearted honesty
- speak in an openhearted way
His openhearted apology surprised everyone at the meeting.
She gave an openhearted account of what had happened.
The letter was warm and openhearted, with no hint of blame.
Word forms
| comparative | more openhearted |
|---|---|
| superlative | most openhearted |
Common combinations
- warm and openhearted
- The new teacher was warm and openhearted from the first day.
- an openhearted smile
- He greeted us with an openhearted smile.
- openhearted generosity
- Her openhearted generosity helped the shelter stay open.
- openhearted about
- She was openhearted about her fears and hopes.
Synonyms and how they differ
- kindhearted
- Focuses on being kind and caring; 'openhearted' adds the idea of sharing feelings openly.
- generous
- Often about giving money or time; 'openhearted' is more about warmth and emotional openness.
- warm
- Describes friendly behavior; 'openhearted' suggests deeper sincerity and willingness to reveal feelings.
- candid
- Means honest and direct, sometimes bluntly; 'openhearted' is gentler and more emotional.
Opposites
Word family
- openheartedly adverb
- In a kind and sincere way: 'She spoke openheartedly about her past.'
- openheartedness noun
- The quality of being kind and willing to share feelings.
- open heart noun
- Used in phrases like 'with an open heart', meaning in a kind and trusting way.
Commonly confused: openhearted or open-hearted? openhearted or lighthearted?
openhearted vs open-hearted
This is just a hyphenated spelling of the same word; both are correct, but the hyphen is common in British writing.
openhearted vs lighthearted
Means cheerful and not serious; 'openhearted' means kind and emotionally open, not carefree.
Practice
She is a very ______ person who always listens and shares her own feelings honestly.
Choose one answer.
'Openhearted' fits because it describes someone kind and emotionally open. 'Lighthearted' means cheerful and carefree, 'halfhearted' means without enthusiasm, and 'hardhearted' means unkind, so none of them fits the context.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “openhearted”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.