pain
Americannoun
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physical suffering or distress, as due to injury, illness, etc.
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a distressing sensation in a particular part of the body.
a back pain.
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mental or emotional suffering or torment.
I am sorry my news causes you such pain.
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pains,
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laborious or careful efforts; assiduous care.
Great pains have been taken to repair the engine perfectly.
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the suffering of childbirth.
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Informal. an annoying or troublesome person or thing.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
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the sensation of acute physical hurt or discomfort caused by injury, illness, etc
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emotional suffering or mental distress
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subject to the penalty of
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Also called: pain in the neck. pain in the arse. informal a person or thing that is a nuisance
verb
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to cause (a person) distress, hurt, grief, anxiety, etc
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informal to annoy; irritate
Synonym Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has painedperfect 3rd person singular
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have painedperfect
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is painingprogressive 3rd person singular
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painingparticiple
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am painingprogressive 1st person singular
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has been painingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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painssingular 3rd person
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are painingprogressive
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have been painingperfect progressive
Past
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had painedperfect
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had been painingperfect progressive
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painedparticiple
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painedsimple
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were painingprogressive plural
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was painingprogressive singular
Future
Etymology
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”
Explanation
If you feel pain, you feel acute physical or emotional discomfort. A sprained ankle will pain you. So will news of a loved one's death. If you "take pain" over something, it means you're being careful. An annoying person can be described as a pain––it's understood that they don't cause you actual physical pain, but cause you emotional discomfort and distress. You can also describe this person as a "pain in the neck," "a pain in the butt," or "a royal pain."
Vocabulary lists containing pain
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.
If you experience severe period pain that stops you from doing day-to-day things, or that worries you at all, you should speak to your doctor, says the NHS.
From BBC • Jun. 14, 2026
She reported her vertigo to a neurologist, described her joint pain to a rheumatologist, complained of bloating to her primary-care physician.
From Salon • Jun. 14, 2026
Half of menstrual product transactions also included a pain product, the study published in PLoS Digital Health journal found.
From BBC • Jun. 14, 2026
In the 2010s, conversations about women, chronic illness, and the pain gap reached critical mass.
From Salon • Jun. 14, 2026
It struck, like a hard, sharp stone, and the Dragon cried and thrashed in pain and fury, tossing its head from side to side, lifting its tail from Strong Jonn's body.
From "Rowan of Rin" by Emily Rodda
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
