pain
Americannoun
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pains
plural
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physical suffering or distress, as due to injury, illness, etc.
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a distressing sensation in a particular part of the body.
a back pain.
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mental or emotional suffering or torment.
I am sorry my news causes you such pain.
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pains,
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laborious or careful efforts; assiduous care.
Great pains have been taken to repair the engine perfectly.
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the suffering of childbirth.
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Informal. an annoying or troublesome person or thing.
verb (used with object)
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pains,
present (3rd person singular)
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pained,
past participle, past
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paining
present participle
verb (used without object)
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pains,
present (3rd person singular)
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pained,
past participle, past
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paining
present participle
noun
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the sensation of acute physical hurt or discomfort caused by injury, illness, etc
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emotional suffering or mental distress
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subject to the penalty of
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Also called: pain in the neck. pain in the arse. informal a person or thing that is a nuisance
verb
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to cause (a person) distress, hurt, grief, anxiety, etc
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informal to annoy; irritate
Synonym Usage
Pain , ache , agony , anguish are terms for sensations causing suffering or torment. Pain and ache usually refer to physical sensations (except heartache ); agony and anguish may be physical or mental. Pain suggests a sudden sharp twinge: a pain in one's ankle. Ache applies to a continuous pain, whether acute or dull: headache; muscular aches. Agony implies a continuous, excruciating, scarcely endurable pain: in agony from a wound. Anguish suggests not only extreme and long-continued pain, but also a feeling of despair. See care.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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painsimple
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painssimple
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have painedperfect
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has painedperfect
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am painingprogressive
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are painingprogressive
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is painingprogressive
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have been painingperfect progressive
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has been painingperfect progressive
Past
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painedsimple
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had painedperfect
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was painingprogressive
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were painingprogressive
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had been painingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of pain
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English peine “punishment, torture, pain,” from Old French, from Latin poena “penalty, pain,” from Greek poinḗ “penalty”
Explanation
If you feel pain, you feel acute physical or emotional discomfort. A sprained ankle will pain you. So will news of a loved one's death. If you "take pain" over something, it means you're being careful. An annoying person can be described as a pain––it's understood that they don't cause you actual physical pain, but cause you emotional discomfort and distress. You can also describe this person as a "pain in the neck," "a pain in the butt," or "a royal pain."
Vocabulary lists containing pain
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.
See Examples For:
She also eliminated her joint pain, chronic fatigue and digestive issues, she said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026
“I’m holding space for people’s pain, but also we’re able to hold on to the hope that our faith gives us, that’s strengthening us,” she said, tearing up.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2026
"I'm fairly fit anyway so I've only had a little pain in my calf muscles and Achilles, but compared to what other people are going through it's no problem," he added.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
"We are in deep pain, and we ask for time and privacy as we come to terms with our loss."
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026
With a stick the Raven Leader stirred the fire, and Torak saw the lines of pain deepen on either side of his mouth.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
Is this growing pains or the wobble before the fall?
From Slate ● Aug. 7, 2026
In a research note published Tuesday titled “AI Credit: Heads I Win, Tails You Lose,” the global investment-management firm expressed its bearish views on this market, but the authors took pains to qualify that stance.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026
She told the BBC how she started feeling ill two weeks later, battling headaches, joint and muscle pains.
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026
Much of what union Vice President Jessica Rodarte saw was reassuring — with school managers and officials at pains to explain cleaning and testing efforts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026
Someone having chest pains by the hot dog stand.
From "Bone Gap" by Laura Ruby
He was pained and frightened: He’d never seen such a thing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
"I am pained to see the events of the past 10 days. This is not a matter of personal prestige for me," Pradhan said in a statement posted on social media platform X.
From Barron's ● Jul. 25, 2026
Dark pigment pushed into claw-like scratches feels like a peek into a figure’s spiritual void; fleshy hues bring out nicks and lines that enliven characters’ faces—some pained, others contemplative.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
"Again?" he asks, the pained expression on his face reflecting the troubling news he's just heard.
From BBC ● Mar. 7, 2026
His bandaged arm no longer pained him, and while he was still hungry and thirsty, the water he had drunk had taken some of the edge from his discomfort.
From "The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander
A second person said: "The bolt challenge is paining me because it’s innocent and hardworking people on both sides that are suffering for the wickedness and thoughtlessness of other people. Really unfair."
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2024
“She can feel pain, and she starts crying, saying, ‘It is here and it is rising and it is paining here and here.'”
From Seattle Times ● May 11, 2024
“Oh, it was a hurting, paining feeling going through my heart to know that something like that would happen on this street.”
From Fox News ● Aug. 10, 2019
Your silhouette appears on the paining, sometimes surrounded by a glowing aura.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2019
Roosevelt had more than just hunger paining him.
From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
