pain

[peyn]

noun

1. physical suffering or distress, as due to injury, illness, etc.

   Synonyms: torment, misery, torture

2. a distressing sensation in a particular part of the body.

   a back pain.

   Synonyms: stitch, twinge, pang, torment, misery, torture

3. mental or emotional suffering or torment.

   I am sorry my news causes you such pain.

   Synonyms: torment, misery, torture
   Antonyms: delight, joy

4. pains,

   1. laborious or careful efforts; assiduous care.

      Great pains have been taken to repair the engine perfectly.

   2. the suffering of childbirth.

5. Informal.,  an annoying or troublesome person or thing.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause physical pain to; hurt.

2. to cause (someone) mental or emotional pain; distress.

   Your sarcasm pained me.

   Synonyms: grieve, trouble, torment, afflict
   Antonyms: please

verb (used without object)

1. to have or give pain.

pain

/ peɪn /

noun

1. the sensation of acute physical hurt or discomfort caused by injury, illness, etc

2. emotional suffering or mental distress

3. subject to the penalty of

4. Also called: pain in the neck.  pain in the arse. informal,  a person or thing that is a nuisance

verb

1. to cause (a person) distress, hurt, grief, anxiety, etc

2. informal,  to annoy; irritate

Other Word Forms

• underpain noun
• unpaining adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pain¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English peine “punishment, torture, pain,” from Old French, from Latin poena “penalty, pain,” from Greek poinḗ “penalty”

Word History and Origins

Origin of pain¹

C13: from Old French peine, from Latin poena punishment, grief, from Greek poinē penalty

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. pain in the ass, pain.

2. pain in the neck, pain.

3. feel no pain, to be intoxicated.

   After all that free beer, we were feeling no pain.

4. on / upon / under pain of, liable to the penalty of.

   on pain of death.

More idioms and phrases containing pain

• at pains
• feel no pain
• for one's pains
• growing pains
• no pain, no gain
• on pain of

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Doctors, medical societies and researchers say acetaminophen remains the best option for treating fever and pain during pregnancy.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They voted for a scruffy guy in a leather jacket promising pain now, gain later.

Read more on Barron's

The pain has spread far beyond my fields.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

And then there’s the gutting “Heavy Metal,” in which she acknowledges that enduring the pain of a breakup has prepared her to deal with the inevitability of the next one.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Video taken at the scene and shared with the Times shows Parias handcuffed on a curb, groaning in pain.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ache 
• agony 
• burn 
• cramp 
• discomfort 
• fever 
• illness 
• injury 
• irritation 
• misery 
• sickness 
• soreness www.thesaurus.com
• spasm 
• strain 
• tenderness www.thesaurus.com
• torment 
• trouble 
• twinge 
• wound