hypothalamus
noun
hy·po·thal·a·mus
ˌhī-pō-ˈtha-lə-məs 
: a basal part of the diencephalon that lies beneath the thalamus on each side, forms the floor of the third ventricle, and includes vital autonomic regulatory centers
Examples of hypothalamus in a Sentence
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How Hunger Works The hypothalamus—a part of your brain—plays a key role in controlling hunger and satiety.
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Merve Ceylan, Health, 26 Oct. 2025
As estrogen decreases during menopause, nerves in the hypothalamus — an almond-size region deep inside the brain whose functions include helping regulate the body’s thermostat — become hyperactive and produce an overabundance of chemical signals called neurokinins.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
The hypothalamus helps with all those challenges in animals.
—Big Think, 18 Oct. 2025
Cortisol, which is produced by the adrenal glands and released by the hypothalamus in the brain, impacts many of the body’s systems and plays a key role in regulating immune function, metabolism, inflammatory and stress responses.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 17 Sep. 2025
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Merve Ceylan, Health, 26 Oct. 2025
As estrogen decreases during menopause, nerves in the hypothalamus — an almond-size region deep inside the brain whose functions include helping regulate the body’s thermostat — become hyperactive and produce an overabundance of chemical signals called neurokinins.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
The hypothalamus helps with all those challenges in animals.
—Big Think, 18 Oct. 2025
Cortisol, which is produced by the adrenal glands and released by the hypothalamus in the brain, impacts many of the body’s systems and plays a key role in regulating immune function, metabolism, inflammatory and stress responses.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hypothalamus
Cite this Entry
“Hypothalamus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypothalamus. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hypothalamus
noun
hy·po·thal·a·mus
ˌhī-pō-ˈthal-ə-məs
: a part of the brain that lies beneath the thalamus, produces hormones which pass to the front part of the pituitary gland, and is important in regulating the activities of the autonomic nervous system
Medical Definition
hypothalamus
noun
hy·po·thal·a·mus
-ˈthal-ə-məs
plural hypothalami
-ˌmī
: a basal part of the diencephalon that lies beneath the thalamus on each side, forms the floor of the third ventricle, and includes vital autonomic regulatory centers (as for the control of food intake)
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