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:
US gas prices rose 9.1 percent in September alone, according to official figures, a headache for residents in a state like Florida, where most people rely on cars to get around.
From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026
The question surrounding England's second spinner remains, however, as part-timers Jacks and Root conceded 71 off seven combined overs which could have given Brook a headache had Sri Lanka's run chase progressed deeper.
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026
“It’s like taking an aspirin for a headache when you have a brain tumor,” she said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
"I'm short of breath and have a headache breathing air now. But I still have to work," Imrayedi, a 63-year-old motorcycle taxi driver in Pekanbaru city, on Sumatra island, told BBC Indonesian last week.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
Moss’s headache had faded a little, which he would have been joyous about under other circumstances.
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
They also reported more physical symptoms, including headaches and fatigue, suggesting that the emotional burden of infertility treatment may also take a physical toll.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
Tuesday is election day, meaning that the traffic jams could have caused headaches for some last-minute voters.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026
AI agents bring new headaches to online sellers.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
His four-year-old is sick too, complaining of headaches and general weakness.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
Sound, of course, and headaches, but I’ve also learned to look out for things like changes in space, as in the way you see it, the way it feels.
From "All The Bright Places" by Jennifer Niven
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