Pain

/ˈpeɪ̯n/ · noun

Meaning

(countable and uncountable) An ache or bodily suffering, or an instance of this; an unpleasant sensation, resulting from a derangement of functions, disease, or injury by violence; hurt..

Definitions by Sense

1. (countable and uncountable) An ache or bodily suffering, or an instance of this; an unpleasant sensation, resulting from a derangement of functions, disease, or injury by violence; hurt.
2. (uncountable) The condition or fact of suffering or anguish especially mental, as opposed to pleasure; torment; distress
3. (countable, from pain in the neck) An annoying person or thing.
4. (uncountable, dated) Suffering inflicted as punishment or penalty.
5. (chiefly in the plural) Labour; effort; great care or trouble taken in doing something.
6. (transitive) To hurt; to put to bodily uneasiness or anguish; to afflict with uneasy sensations of any degree of intensity; to torment; to torture.
7. (transitive) To render uneasy in mind; to disquiet; to distress; to grieve.
8. (transitive, obsolete) To inflict suffering upon as a penalty; to punish.

Example Sentences

The greatest difficulty lies in treating patients with chronic pain.

I had to stop running when I started getting pains in my feet.

In the final analysis, pain is a fact of life.

The pain of departure was difficult to bear.

And I should tell him all my pain, ⁠And how my life had droop’d of late, ⁠And he should sorrow o’er my state And marvel what possess’d my brain; […]

Your mother is a right pain.

Today is match day, Grimsby Town are at home, and the ground is walking distance from New Clee station. So, visiting football supporters coming by train have to change at Grimsby Town [station]. That's a real pain.

You may not leave this room on pain of death.

Synonyms for pain

Antonyms for pain

Related Words

Word Forms

• pains
• paine
• paining
• pained

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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