What does ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’ mean?
To “absence makes the heart grow fonder” means to time apart increases affection. The phrase became widely known through T. H. Bayly's 1844 poem, though similar sentiments appear earlier.
Origin
- The phrase became widely known through T. H. Bayly's 1844 poem, though similar sentiments appear earlier.
How to use it
- Common in relationship talk.
- Example: The long deployment was hard, but absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-18
- Definitions and origins are drawn from public-domain reference works, primarily Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), with modern usage notes clearly marked.