headache
Americannoun
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headaches
plural
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a pain located in the head, as over the eyes, at the temples, or at the base of the skull.
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an annoying or bothersome person, situation, activity, etc.
noun
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Technical name: cephalalgia. pain in the head, caused by dilation of cerebral arteries, muscle contraction, insufficient oxygen in the cerebral blood, reaction to drugs, etc
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informal any cause of worry, difficulty, or annoyance
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Pain in the head, caused by stimulation of or pressure to any of various structures of the head, such as tissue covering the cranium, cranial nerves, or blood vessels. Headache can be a primary disorder, as in migraine or cluster headaches, or a common symptom associated with head injury or many illnesses such as acute infection, brain tumor or abscess, eye disorders such as glaucoma, dental disease, and hypertension.
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See also cluster headache migraine
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of headache
before 1000; Middle English; Old English hēafodece. See head, ache
Compare meaning
How does headache compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A headache is a pain or ache in your head, especially one that lasts longer than a few minutes. You might get a headache after a day of staring at a computer screen. There are many reasons for getting a headache, from staying up too late to a stressful day to skipping your morning cup of coffee. A more serious type of headache, like a migraine, might keep you home from work for a day, but most headaches are just a nuisance. You can also describe a problem or struggle as a figurative headache: "Learning Danish is turning out to be a real headache." In Old English, the word was heafodece.
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:
American visitors also said flights were a headache, often involving last-minute cancellations, schedule changes and winding itineraries.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Symptoms similar to the flu or malaria, including fever, headache and tiredness, can begin suddenly.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
Salmonella infection could result in diarrhea, nausea, headache and stomach cramps.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
Moderna’s study found that mFlusiva carries a higher risk of fatigue, headache, and other side effects than earlier vaccines.
From Slate ● Aug. 6, 2026
That day Papá complained about a terrible headache and his back, and insisted Mamá stay home to take care of him and the children.
From "Breaking Through" by Francisco Jiménez
Careful planning in the early stages of memory loss can prevent financial and estate-planning headaches later.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026
LA28 will rely on mostly existing venues for both the Olympics and Paralympics, relieving many of the biggest headaches that have plagued previous organizing committees.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
In a survey by Dr Nicola Brink - Guernsey's Medical Officer of Health and Director of Public Health - housing, cost of living and transport were big headaches for the future.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
Failing to manage yield in taxable accounts can trigger unexpected headaches.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
“I always feel such matters are safest in your hands, despite the burden it places on you. How are your headaches these days, my dear?”
From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly
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.
