pains
Britishplural noun
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care, trouble, or effort (esp in the phrases take pains, be at pains to )
-
painful sensations experienced during contractions in childbirth; labour pains
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.
The minister has been at pains to emphasise that she's committed to the new curriculum.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
Students navigated race, politics, relationships and the growing pains of young adulthood at a historically Black college.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026
Also on the agenda is the president’s third-country removal policy and the growing pains of SCOTUSblog.
From Slate ● Oct. 8, 2026
Most of Mekelle's stores remained shuttered on Sunday, with several business owners taking pains to hide their stocks from Thursday as the federal forces drew closer.
From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026
She even took pains to water the garden, and one morning I saw her tending the pumpkin vine, which was overladen with blossom.
From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya
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