headache
Americannoun
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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
Etymology
Origin of headache
before 1000; Middle English; Old English hēafodece. See head, ache
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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.
Flea-borne typhus infection symptoms include fever, headache, chills, body aches and a rash on or around the chest, sides and back.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026
His sacking, over allegations related to his personal conduct, leaves something of a headache for BBC Radio 2 executives.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
Emma is an ambassador for Meningitis Now and has warned parents to look out for symptoms - these can start abruptly and progress rapidly, including a high fever, severe headache and vomiting.
From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026
And that isn’t his only headache: His property-tax bill recently doubled and his rent rises 5% each year.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026
“Beowulf is also ill. He claims to have a headache in his leg.”
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
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.
