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

He said he was especially aggravated by the robot’s behavior because he was already experiencing a lot of pain that day due to medical issues.

From Los Angeles Times

"Behind every statistic is a child missing school trips, missing playtime with friends, or living in pain," she says.

From BBC

"Because you were Greenlanders. Sorry for what was taken from you. And for the pain it caused," she continued.

From BBC

It is one of the only pain relievers recommended for pregnant women, as others like ibuprofen have been linked to birth defects and other adverse outcomes.

From BBC

"I'd been handed an opportunity to leave the pain and shame of my past behind, so I happily stepped into the character created for me," she writes in the book.

From BBC

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