pain
Americannoun
-
physical suffering or distress, as due to injury, illness, etc.
-
a distressing sensation in a particular part of the body.
a back pain.
-
mental or emotional suffering or torment.
I am sorry my news causes you such pain.
-
pains,
-
laborious or careful efforts; assiduous care.
Great pains have been taken to repair the engine perfectly.
-
the suffering of childbirth.
-
-
Informal. an annoying or troublesome person or thing.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
-
the sensation of acute physical hurt or discomfort caused by injury, illness, etc
-
emotional suffering or mental distress
-
subject to the penalty of
-
Also called: pain in the neck. pain in the arse. informal a person or thing that is a nuisance
verb
-
to cause (a person) distress, hurt, grief, anxiety, etc
-
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
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have painedperfect
-
has painedperfect 3rd person singular
-
has been painingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
am painingprogressive 1st person singular
-
have been painingperfect progressive
-
are painingprogressive
-
is painingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
painingparticiple
-
painssingular 3rd person
Past
-
had painedperfect
-
was painingprogressive singular
-
were painingprogressive plural
-
had been painingperfect progressive
-
painedparticiple
-
painedsimple
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.
Damage to the cartilage in his knees was causing such severe pain that he could barely walk up and down stairs.
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
There were gurgling, cooing, month-and-a-half old newborns in Brooklyn and Westchester who had never known the soul-emptying pain of a crushing Knicks defeat.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
The analysis brought together evidence from 59 systematic reviews covering more than 50 acute pain conditions affecting both children and adults.
From Science Daily • Jun. 9, 2026
There are two big takeaways from the market’s relative indifference to consumer pain and rising prices.
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
“Yes,” I told her, a tap of pain in my forehead.
From "Nory Ryan’s Song" by Patricia Reilly Giff
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.
