ache

[eyk]

verb (used without object)

ached, aching 

1. to have or suffer a continuous, dull pain.

   His whole body ached.

   Synonyms: hurt

2. to feel great sympathy, pity, or the like.

   Her heart ached for the starving animals.

3. to feel eager; yearn; long.

   She ached to be the champion. He's just aching to get even.

noun

1. a continuous, dull pain (in contrast to a sharp, sudden, or sporadic pain).

ache

/ eɪk /

verb

1. to feel, suffer, or be the source of a continuous dull pain

2. to suffer mental anguish

noun

1. a continuous dull pain

Other Word Forms

• aching adjective
• achingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ache¹

before 900; (v.) Middle English aken, Old English acan; perhaps metaphoric use of earlier unattested sense “drive, impel” (compare Old Norse aka, cognate with Latin agere, Greek ágein ); (noun) derivative of the v.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ache¹

Old English ācan (vb), æce (n), Middle English aken (vb), ache (n). Compare _bake , _batch

Synonym Study

See pain.

Example Sentences

It’s aching and vulnerable, and reveals the kind of stunning emotional depth that Michael exuded throughout his entire career.

From Salon

Victims of the recent outbreaks complained of stomach aches, dizziness, and nausea – as well as shortness of breath, which is a non-typical symptom of food poisoning.

From BBC

"It gets quite heavy pushing a wheelchair around for 12 hours at a time - your shoulders and your back ache," Emma says.

From BBC

“Go do the revolution, baby,” Bob says as Perfidia marches out the door, her postpartum depression urging her to prove that she’s more than an aching body shackled to a baby.

From Los Angeles Times

Thursday afternoon Mets’ games create more stomach aches and fist pumps.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• anguish 
• misery 
• pang 
• soreness www.thesaurus.com
• spasm 
• twinge