at heart

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Los Angeles and Tucson, Ariz. Despite many close friendships, especially with women, he was at heart a loner, conditioned, possibly, by clinical depression, for which he sought electroshock therapy even though it addled his brain.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

They’re simply California girls at heart, Bea said.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: "The thousands of passengers who travel with London Northwestern and West Midlands Railway will be using services that are owned by the public and run with their interests at heart."

From BBC • Jan. 30, 2026

And longer term, we think he is still a hawk at heart, if inflation turns out less benign than he expects.

From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026

Behind my back, at the world’s end, my pale slightly glowing fat mother sleeps on, old, sick at heart, in our dingy underground room.

From "Grendel" by John Gardner