palpitation.

An unusually noticeable heartbeat sensation, often described as pounding, fluttering, or racing.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• heart palpitations
• experience palpitations
• a sudden palpitation

On the page

He reported palpitations whenever he rehearsed the emergency announcement.

A sudden palpitation drew her attention away from the argument.

The clinician asked whether the palpitations happened only when she felt afraid.

Usage notes

Primary category: fear. Commonly plural. Anxiety can trigger palpitations, but they have other causes; the sensation does not itself establish danger or an abnormal rhythm. Count noun. Count plural: palpitations. Derived family (not additional inflections or records): palpitate.