at heart

ADVERB

in reality

Synonyms

WEAK

at bottom basically deep down fundamentally in essence in spite of appearance inside

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.

"She's someone who has the club at heart and is not just thinking about dollar signs."

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

“He’s a soldier at heart that carries out his orders dutifully, and that makes him valuable to her.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

Jones told MPs these matters were "at heart of the police investigation".

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026

While the actor is an emotional person at heart, Francesca is not.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026

They understand children and they have the children's best interests at heart.

From "Matilda" by Roald Dahl