pains

/ (peɪnz) /

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pl n

care, trouble, or effort (esp in the phrases take pains, be at pains to)

painful sensations experienced during contractions in childbirth; labour pains

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Words nearby pains

pain in the neck, painkiller, painless, pain-pleasure principle, pain point, pains, painstaking, paint, paintball, paintball game, paint black

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

How to use pains in a sentence

Lee would stay up late, unable to sleep from the pains he had in his back.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In the not-so-distant future, an independent country, which belongs to Kurds, will rise from these wants, pains, fire and ashes.
Dear Turkish PM: It’s Time to Act to Save Kobani’s Kurds|Bahman Ghobani|October 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Severe belly pains, a headache, and fever were the only conclusions Breman could draw.
The Original Ebola Hunter|Abby Haglage|September 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A national Democratic consultant familiar with the race took pains to point out what a big prize Walker would be for the left.
Cheese Head Guv's Sleazy Past|Ben Jacobs|August 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST

It pains me to say this, in the year 2014, we are in a death match.
Gaza, You're No Good For My Marriage|Josh Robin|August 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Naturally he did not take such pains to dodge Grandfather Mole—after the talk they had had.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole|Arthur Scott Bailey
Insult and outrage seemed to have given that bodily vigour to Ripperda, which medicine and surgery had taken no pains to restore.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
For wise Men, without your taking such Pains to tell them, knew what they were before.
A Letter from Mr. Cibber to Mr. Pope|Colley Cibber
He was physically strong and able to endure fatigue, and he had great capacity for taking pains.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
It always pains me to acknowledge that any man, even an adversary, has acted dishonourably.
God and my Neighbour|Robert Blatchford

pains

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How to use pains in a sentence