pain

[ peyn ]

See synonyms for: pain pained pains on Thesaurus.com

noun

physical suffering or distress, as due to injury, illness, etc.
a distressing sensation in a particular part of the body: a back pain.

mental or emotional suffering or torment: I am sorry my news causes you such pain.
pains,
- laborious or careful efforts; assiduous care: Great pains have been taken to repair the engine perfectly.
- the suffering of childbirth.
Informal. an annoying or troublesome person or thing.

verb (used with object)

to cause physical pain to; hurt.
to cause (someone) mental or emotional pain; distress: Your sarcasm pained me.

verb (used without object)

to have or give pain.

Idioms about pain

feel no pain, Informal. to be intoxicated: After all that free beer, we were feeling no pain.
on / upon / under pain of, liable to the penalty of: on pain of death.

pain in the ass, Slang: Vulgar. pain (def. 5).
pain in the neck, Informal. pain (def. 5).

Origin of pain

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

synonym study For pain

1-3. 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. 4a. See care.

Other words for pain

1-3	torture, misery, torment
2	pang, twinge, stitch
7	afflict, torment; trouble, grieve

See synonyms for pain on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for pain

3	joy, delight
7	please

See antonyms for pain on Thesaurus.com

Other words from pain

un·der·pain, noun
un·pain·ing, adjective

Words Nearby pain

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use pain in a sentence

When designing, consider your potential customers’ preferences and pain points.
How to drive digital innovation necessary during the pandemic | Nick Chasinov | September 16, 2020 | Search Engine Watch
Roughly 80 percent of Americans have back pain at some point in their lives.
The best thing for back pain is actually more movement | Sara Chodosh | September 16, 2020 | Popular-Science
Patients with myocarditis can experience chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue or a rapid or irregular heartbeat.
College athletes show signs of possible heart injury after COVID-19 | Aimee Cunningham | September 11, 2020 | Science News
So it was the first time that I felt real pain of losing somebody.
Sitcom Queen Tichina Arnold Got Funny to Avoid Spankings | Pallabi Munsi | September 10, 2020 | Ozy
Those people reported mostly mild side effects, such as headaches, fatigue and muscle pain.
Here’s what pausing the AstraZeneca-Oxford coronavirus vaccine trial really means | Aimee Cunningham | September 9, 2020 | Science News

He closed his eyes, imagining the virgins, imagining away the pain in his head and groin.
Powerful Congressman Writes About ‘Fleshy Breasts’ | Asawin Suebsaeng | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
Throughout all the stories of loss and pain with the Chief, there was barely a trace of emotion.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile | Robert Ward | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
He not only gives out pain — he is in constant, unrelenting pain.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile | Robert Ward | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
If laughter is the best medicine, The Comeback made you feel enough pain to need a dose—and then it delivered in spades.
‘The Comeback’ Finale: Give Lisa Kudrow All of the Awards | Kevin Fallon | December 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Just two young kids experiencing the panic, pain, and then the miracle, of new birth.
Jesus Wasn’t Born Rich. Think About It. | Gene Robinson | December 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
He shrank, as from some one who inflicted pain as a child, unwittingly, to see what the effect would be.
The Wave | Algernon Blackwood
She stabbed him, noting the effect upon him with a detached interest that seemed indifferent to his pain.
The Wave | Algernon Blackwood
Each sentence came as if torn piecemeal from his unwilling tongue; short, jerky phrases, conceived in pain and delivered in agony.
Raw Gold | Bertrand W. Sinclair
I laved his pain-twisted face with the cool water and let a few drops trickle into his open mouth.
Raw Gold | Bertrand W. Sinclair
Instinctively he tried to hide both pain and anger—it could only increase this distance that was already there.
The Wave | Algernon Blackwood

British Dictionary definitions for pain

pain

/ (peɪn) /

noun

the sensation of acute physical hurt or discomfort caused by injury, illness, etc
emotional suffering or mental distress

on pain of subject to the penalty of
Also called: pain in the neck, (taboo) pain in the arse informal a person or thing that is a nuisance

verb(tr)

to cause (a person) distress, hurt, grief, anxiety, etc
informal to annoy; irritate

Origin of pain

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

See also pains

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with pain

pain

In addition to the idioms beginning with pain

pain in the neck

also see:

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

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