Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense pains, past tense, past participle pained
1. variable noun
Pain is the feeling of great discomfort you have, for example when you have been hurt or when you are ill.
...back pain.
...a bone disease that caused excruciating pain.
To help ease the pain, heat can be applied to the area with a hot water bottle.
I felt a sharp pain in my lower back. [+ in]
The illness began with a nagging pain.
...chest pains.
See be in pain
2. uncountable noun
Pain is the feeling of unhappiness that you have when something unpleasant or upsetting happens.
...grey eyes that seemed filled with pain.
3. verb [no cont]
If a fact or idea pains you, it makes you feel upset and disappointed.
This public acknowledgment of Ted's disability pained my mother. [VERB noun]
It pains me to think of you struggling all alone. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
Synonyms: distress, worry, hurt, wound More Synonyms of pain
4.
See a pain in the arse
5.
See be at pains to do sth
6.
See for their pains
7.
See on pain of sth/under pain of sth
8.
See take pains to do sth, go to great pains to do sth
More Synonyms of pain
pain in British English
(peɪn)
noun
1.
the sensation of acute physical hurt or discomfort caused by injury, illness, etc
2.
emotional suffering or mental distress
3. on pain of
4. Also called: pain in the neck or (vulgar) pain in the arse informal
a person or thing that is a nuisance
verb(transitive)
5.
to cause (a person) distress, hurt, grief, anxiety, etc
6. informal
to annoy; irritate
Word origin
C13: from Old French peine, from Latin poena punishment, grief, from Greek poinē penalty
pain in American English
(peɪn)
noun
1.
penalty or punishment
obs. except in on (or upon or under) pain of, at the risk of bringing upon oneself (punishment, death, etc.)
2.
a sensation of hurting, or strong discomfort, in some part of the body, caused by an injury, disease, or functional disorder, and transmitted through the nervous system
3.
the distress or suffering, mental or physical, caused by great anxiety, anguish, grief, disappointment, etc.
4. [pl.]
the labor of childbirth
5. [pl.]
great care or effort
to take pains with one's work
6. Slang
an annoyance
often used in phrases specifying a part of the body (e.g., pain in the neck)
verb transitive
7.
to cause to suffer; hurt; distress
verb intransitive
8.
to have or cause pain
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈeffort
Idioms:
feel no pain
Word origin
ME peine < OFr < L poena, penalty, punishment: see penal
More idioms containing
pain
a pain in the neck
COBUILD Collocations
pain
burning pain
chronic pain
considerable pain
immense pain
intense pain
physical pain
sharp pain
short-term pain
terrible pain
unnecessary pain
Examples of 'pain' in a sentence
pain
Yet the number two position is now occupied by low back and neck pain.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Why would it be an advantage not to feel pain?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But that will hardly ease the pain felt across the sport.
The Sun (2017)
Yet these obviously fake painkillers have been found to significantly ease chronic back pain.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And he complained that during his five years in office he suffered chest pains and bronchitis.
The Sun (2016)
They are most often taken for joint pain.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A dull ache or sharp pain in this area?
The Sun (2017)
During a hospital visit, the nun spoke with a patient who told her that she was in great pain.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There were times when I wondered how much pain one person could deal with.
The Sun (2016)
It spoke of pain, anxiety, sorrow and disappointment.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And this is why true human beings feel more pain.
Zindell, David The Broken God (1993)
This makes back and neck pain common.
The Sun (2012)
When a person simply cannot deal with the pain of something the mind can block it out.
The Sun (2011)
Then there were the weight issues brought on by comfort eating to combat her mental pain.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There are drugs that can help ease nerve pain.
The Sun (2010)
She has a pain in her chest.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There is no amount of medicine they can give you to take that pain away.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He also suffered continual back pain from an injury in his youth.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The sorrow and pain that they caused is unimaginable.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We will bring hurt and pain into your life.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
This means that sensory experiences that are not unpleasant or dangerous are experienced as discomfort or pain.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Will you preserve me from agony and pain and aches?
Christianity Today (2000)
This means that it could offer better relief to people with acute pains such as migraines.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The other women there were also in great pain.
Martin, April The Guide to Lesbian and Gay Parenting (1993)
We must plan well so that we can die with the minimum of anxiety and pain.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The operation had given him instant relief from the pain.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
My mother consequently suffered pain and indignity during her final days of illness.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
When the pain goes the emotional condition may be seen to disappear.
Chaitow, Leon The Beat Fatigue Workbook - how to identify the causes (1988)
To try to block out feelings of emotional pain or inadequacy.
Cohen, Julian & Kay, James Taking Drugs Seriously (1994)
Symptoms include muscular weakness and bone pains.
Mayes, Adrienne The Dictionary of Nutritional Health (1986)
This dog would have suffered pain and distress over a sustained period due to multiple injuries.
The Sun (2006)
Everyone who's come for help has suffered pain in some area of their life.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The American domestic car industry has been feeling the pain for the past two years.
The Sun (2009)
In other languages
pain
British English: pain /peɪn/ NOUN
If you feel pain, or if you are in pain, you feel great discomfort in a part of your body, because of illness or an injury.
...a bone disease that caused a lot of pain.
American English: pain
Arabic: أَلَمٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: dor
Chinese: 痛
Croatian: bol
Czech: bolest
Danish: smerte
Dutch: pijn
European Spanish: dolor
Finnish: kipu
French: douleur
German: Schmerz
Greek: πόνος
Italian: dolore
Japanese: 痛み
Korean: 고통
Norwegian: smerte
Polish: ból
European Portuguese: dor
Romanian: durere
Russian: боль
Latin American Spanish: dolor
Swedish: smärta
Thai: ความเจ็บปวด
Turkish: ağrı
Ukrainian: біль
Vietnamese: sự đau đớn
British English: pain VERB
If a fact or idea pains you, it makes you feel upset and disappointed.
This public acknowledgment of his disability pained my mother.
American English: pain
Brazilian Portuguese: entristecer
Chinese: 使痛苦
European Spanish: doler
French: faire de la peine à
German: wehtun
Italian: addolorare
Japanese: 苦しめる
Korean: 괴롭히다
European Portuguese: entristecer
Latin American Spanish: doler
Chinese translation of 'pain'
pain
(peɪn)
n
(c/u) (physical) 疼痛 (téngtòng) (阵(陣), zhèn)
(u) (fig, = unhappiness) 痛苦 (tòngkǔ)
(inf, = nuisance)
to be a pain (in the neck)讨(討)厌(厭)的家(傢)伙 (tǎoyàn de jiāhuo) (个(個), gè)
to have a pain in one's chest/arm胸痛/胳膊疼 (xiōng tòng/gēbo téng)
to be in pain在苦恼(惱)中 (zài kǔnǎo zhōng)
to take (great) pains to do sth尽(盡)力做某事 (jìnlì zuò mǒushì)
to take (great) pains with/over sth对(對)某事煞费(費)苦心 (duì mǒushì shà fèi kǔxīn)
what a pain! (inf) 真讨(討)厌(厭)！ (zhēn tǎoyàn!)
on pain of death/imprisonment违(違)者以死/监(監)禁论(論)处(處) (wéizhě yǐ sǐ/jiānjìn lùnchǔ)
All related terms of 'pain'
back pain
背痛 bèitòng [ 阵(陣) zhèn ] ⇒ to have back pain → 背痛 bèitòng
what a pain!
( inf ) 真讨(討)厌(厭)！ zhēn tǎoyàn!
to be in pain
在苦恼(惱)中 zài kǔnǎo zhōng
to numb the pain
麻痹(痺)疼痛 mábì téngtòng
the pain came in waves
痛感阵(陣)阵(陣)袭(襲)来(來) tònggǎn zhènzhèn xílái
on pain of death/imprisonment
违(違)者以死/监(監)禁论(論)处(處) wéizhě yǐ sǐ/jiānjìn lùnchǔ
a stab of pain/pity/jealousy
一阵(陣)疼痛/怜(憐)悯(憫)/嫉妒 yī zhèn téngtòng/liánmǐn/jídù
to be doubled up with pain/laughter
痛得/笑得弯(彎)下了身 tòng de/xiào de wānxiàle shēn
to have a pain in one's chest/arm
胸痛/胳膊疼 xiōng tòng/gēbo téng
to spare sb the trouble/pain/details
避免某人的麻烦(煩)/痛苦/让(讓)某人知道详(詳)情 bìmiǎn mǒurén de máfan/tònkǔ/ràng mǒurén zhīdào xiángqíng
to be a pain (in the neck)
讨(討)厌(厭)的家(傢)伙 tǎoyàn de jiāhuo [ 个(個) gè ]
1 (noun)
Definition
physical hurt or discomfort caused by injury or illness
the fall has left him in a lot of pain
Synonyms
suffering
discomfort
She suffered some discomfort, but no real pain.
trouble
She tells me her troubles. I tell her mine.
hurt
I was full of jealousy and hurt.
irritation
Don't allow a minor irritation to mar your ambitions.
tenderness
There is still some tenderness on his lower leg.
soreness
throe (rare)
2 (noun)
Definition
physical hurt or discomfort caused by injury or illness
I felt a sharp pain in my lower back.
Synonyms
ache
You feel nausea and aches in your muscles.
smarting
stinging
aching
cramp
She started getting stomach cramps this morning.
throb
throbbing
spasm
pang
pangs of hunger
twinge
the occasional twinge of indigestion
shooting pain
3 (noun)
Definition
emotional suffering
Her eyes were filled with pain.
Synonyms
sorrow
It was a time of great sorrow.
suffering
It has caused terrible suffering to animals.
torture
Waiting for the result was torture.
distress
Her mouth grew stiff with pain and distress.
despair
grief
Their grief soon gave way to anger.
misery
All that money brought nothing but misery.
agony
We accepted there would be agony for the remaining children.
sadness
It is with a mixture of sadness and joy that I say farewell.
torment
We spent our days in torment, waiting for news.
hardship
Many people are suffering economic hardship.
bitterness
the growing bitterness of the dispute
woe
He listened to my tale of woe.
anguish
A cry of anguish burst from her lips.
heartache
He had been the cause of so much heartache.
affliction
Hay fever is an affliction that arrives at an early age.
tribulation
the trials and tribulations of everyday life
desolation
He expresses his sense of desolation without self-pity.
wretchedness
1 (plural noun)
Definition
care or trouble
He got little thanks for his pains.
Synonyms
trouble
labour
effort
industry
care
bother
diligence
special attention
assiduousness
2 (plural noun)
Her pains were now about ten minutes apart.
Synonyms
contractions
labour pains
birth-pangs
1 (verb)
Definition
to cause (a person) physical or mental suffering
It pains me to think of an animal being in distress.
Synonyms
distress
I did not want to frighten or distress her.
worry
‘Why didn't you tell us?’ – ‘Didn't want to worry you.’
hurt
I'll go. I've hurt you enough.
wound
He was deeply wounded by the treachery of his closest friends.
torture
He would not torture her further by arguing.
grieve
It grieved me to see him in such distress.
torment
At times, memories returned to torment her.
afflict
There are four main problems that afflict these people.
sadden
The cruelty in the world saddens me incredibly.
disquiet
She was obviously disquieted by the experience.
vex
agonize
cut to the quick
aggrieve
2 (verb)
Definition
to cause (a person) physical or mental suffering
My ankle still pained me.
Synonyms
hurt
chafe
cause pain to
cause discomfort to
3 (verb)
Definition
to annoy
Synonyms
irritate (informal)
Their attitude irritates me.
annoy
Try making a note of the things that annoy you.
harass
a celebrity routinely harassed by the paparazzi
gall
It was their smugness that galled her most.
exasperate
The constant interruptions were beginning to exasperate me.
vex
Everything about that man vexes me.
rile
Cancellations rarely riled him.
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang)
hack you off (informal)
idioms
See be at pains
See pain in the neck
related words
related phobiaalgophobia
Additional synonyms
in the sense of afflict
Definition
to cause someone suffering or unhappiness
There are four main problems that afflict these people.
Synonyms
torment,
trouble,
pain,
hurt,
wound,
burden,
distress,
rack,
try,
plague,
grieve,
harass,
ail (literary),
oppress,
beset,
smite
in the sense of affliction
Definition
something that causes physical or mental suffering
Hay fever is an affliction that arrives at an early age.
Synonyms
misfortune,
suffering,
trouble,
trial,
disease,
pain,
distress,
grief,
misery,
plague (informal),
curse,
ordeal,
sickness,
torment,
hardship,
sorrow,
woe,
adversity,
calamity,
scourge,
tribulation,
wretchedness
in the sense of agony
Definition
acute physical or mental pain
We accepted there would be agony for the remaining children.
Synonyms
suffering,
pain,
distress,
misery,
torture,
discomfort,
torment,
hardship,
woe,
anguish,
pangs,
affliction,
throes
Synonyms of 'pain'
pain
Explore 'pain' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of anguish
Definition
great mental pain
A cry of anguish burst from her lips.
Synonyms
suffering,
pain,
torture,
distress,
grief,
misery,
agony,
torment,
sorrow,
woe,
heartache,
heartbreak,
pang,
throe
in the sense of annoy
Definition
to irritate or displease
Try making a note of the things that annoy you.
Synonyms
irritate,
trouble,
bore,
anger,
harry,
bother,
disturb,
provoke,
get (informal),
bug (informal),
needle (informal),
plague,
tease,
harass,
hassle (informal),
aggravate (informal),
badger,
gall,
madden,
ruffle,
exasperate,
nettle,
molest,
pester,
vex,
displease,
irk,
bedevil,
rile,
peeve,
get under your skin (informal),
get on your nerves (informal),
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
get up your nose (informal),
give someone grief (British, South Africa),
make your blood boil,
piss you off (taboo, slang),
rub someone up the wrong way (informal),
get your goat (slang),
get in your hair (informal),
get on your wick (British, slang),
get your dander up (informal),
get your back up,
incommode (formal),
put your back up,
hack you off (informal),
be on your back (slang)
in the sense of bitterness
the growing bitterness of the dispute
Synonyms
trauma,
tragedy,
grief,
misery,
sadness,
sorrow,
anguish,
unhappiness,
unpleasantness,
awfulness
in the sense of cramp
Definition
a sudden painful contraction of a muscle
She started getting stomach cramps this morning.
Synonyms
spasm,
pain,
ache,
contraction,
pang,
stiffness,
stitch,
convulsion,
twinge,
crick,
shooting pain
in the sense of desolation
Definition
solitary misery
He expresses his sense of desolation without self-pity.
Synonyms
misery,
distress,
despair,
gloom,
sadness,
woe,
anguish,
melancholy,
unhappiness,
dejection,
wretchedness,
gloominess
in the sense of discomfort
Definition
a mild pain
She suffered some discomfort, but no real pain.
Synonyms
pain,
suffering,
hurt,
smarting,
ache,
throbbing,
irritation,
tenderness,
pang,
malaise,
twinge,
soreness
in the sense of disquiet
Definition
to make (someone) anxious
She was obviously disquieted by the experience.
Synonyms
make uneasy,
concern,
worry,
trouble,
upset,
bother,
disturb,
distress,
annoy,
plague,
unsettle,
harass,
hassle (informal),
agitate,
vex,
perturb,
discompose,
incommode
in the sense of exasperate
Definition
to cause great irritation to
The constant interruptions were beginning to exasperate me.
Synonyms
irritate,
anger,
provoke,
annoy,
rouse,
infuriate,
hassle (informal),
exacerbate,
aggravate (informal),
incense,
enrage,
gall,
madden,
inflame,
bug (informal),
nettle,
get to (informal),
vex,
embitter,
irk,
rile (informal),
pique,
rankle,
peeve (informal),
needle (informal),
get on your nerves (informal),
try the patience of,
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
piss you off (taboo, slang),
get in your hair (informal),
get on your wick (British, slang),
hack you off (informal)
in the sense of gall
Definition
to annoy or irritate
It was their smugness that galled her most.
Synonyms
annoy,
provoke,
irritate,
aggravate (informal),
get (informal),
trouble,
bother,
disturb,
plague,
madden,
ruffle,
exasperate,
nettle,
vex,
displease,
irk,
rile (informal),
peeve (informal),
get under your skin (informal),
get on your nerves (informal),
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
get up your nose (informal),
give someone grief (British, South Africa),
make your blood boil,
piss you off (taboo, slang),
rub up the wrong way,
get on your wick (British, slang),
get your back up,
put your back up,
hack you off (informal)
in the sense of grief
Definition
deep or intense sorrow
Their grief soon gave way to anger.
Synonyms
sadness,
suffering,
pain,
regret,
distress,
misery,
agony,
mourning,
sorrow,
woe,
anguish,
remorse,
bereavement,
heartache,
heartbreak,
mournfulness,
dejection
Additional synonyms
in the sense of grieve
Definition
to feel or cause to feel great sorrow or distress
It grieved me to see him in such distress.
Synonyms
sadden,
hurt,
injure,
distress,
wound,
crush,
pain,
afflict,
upset,
agonize,
break the heart of,
make your heart bleed
in the sense of harass
Definition
to trouble or annoy (someone) by repeated attacks, questions, or problems
a celebrity routinely harassed by the paparazzi
Synonyms
annoy,
trouble,
bother,
worry,
harry,
disturb,
devil (informal),
plague,
bait,
hound,
torment,
hassle (informal),
badger,
persecute,
exasperate,
pester,
vex,
breathe down someone's neck,
chivvy (British),
give someone grief (British, South Africa),
be on your back (slang),
beleaguer
in the sense of hardship
Definition
something that causes suffering
Many people are suffering economic hardship.
Synonyms
suffering,
want,
need,
trouble,
trial,
difficulty,
burden,
misery,
torment,
oppression,
persecution,
grievance,
misfortune,
austerity,
adversity,
calamity,
affliction,
discomfort,
tribulation,
privation (formal),
destitution
in the sense of heartache
Definition
very great sadness and emotional suffering
He had been the cause of so much heartache.
Synonyms
sorrow,
suffering,
pain,
torture,
distress,
despair,
grief,
agony,
torment,
bitterness,
anguish,
remorse,
heartbreak,
affliction,
heartsickness
in the sense of irritation
Don't allow a minor irritation to mar your ambitions.
Synonyms
nuisance,
annoyance,
irritant,
pain (informal),
drag (informal),
bother,
plague (informal),
menace (informal),
tease,
pest,
hassle,
provocation,
gall,
goad,
aggravation (informal),
pain in the neck (informal),
pain in the arse (taboo, slang),
thorn in your flesh
in the sense of misery
Definition
intense unhappiness or suffering
All that money brought nothing but misery.
Synonyms
unhappiness,
distress,
despair,
grief,
suffering,
depression,
torture,
agony,
gloom,
sadness,
discomfort,
torment,
hardship,
sorrow,
woe,
anguish,
melancholy,
desolation,
wretchedness
in the sense of nark
Definition
to annoy
Synonyms
annoy,
bother,
provoke,
bug (informal),
irritate,
aggravate (informal),
gall,
exasperate,
nettle,
irk,
rile,
pique,
peeve,
get on your nerves (informal),
miff (informal),
piss you off (taboo, slang),
hack you off (informal)
in the sense of pang
Definition
a sudden sharp feeling of pain or sadness
pangs of hunger
Synonyms
pain,
stab,
sting,
stitch,
ache,
wrench,
prick,
spasm,
twinge,
throe (rare)
in the sense of rile
Definition
to annoy or anger
Cancellations rarely riled him.
Synonyms
anger,
upset,
provoke,
bug (informal),
annoy,
irritate,
aggravate (informal),
gall,
nettle,
vex,
irk,
pique,
peeve (informal),
get under your skin (informal),
get on your nerves (informal),
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
piss you off (taboo, slang),
get your goat (slang),
try your patience,
rub you up the wrong way,
get or put your back up,
hack you off (informal)
in the sense of sadden
Definition
to make (someone) sad
The cruelty in the world saddens me incredibly.
Synonyms
upset,
depress,
distress,
grieve,
desolate,
cast down,
bring tears to your eyes,
make sad,
dispirit,
make your heart bleed,
aggrieve,
deject,
cast a gloom upon
Additional synonyms
in the sense of sadness
It is with a mixture of sadness and joy that I say farewell.
Synonyms
unhappiness,
sorrow,
grief,
tragedy,
depression,
the blues,
misery,
melancholy,
poignancy,
despondency,
bleakness,
heavy heart,
dejection,
wretchedness,
gloominess,
mournfulness,
dolour (poetic),
dolefulness,
cheerlessness,
sorrowfulness
in the sense of tenderness
There is still some tenderness on his lower leg.
Synonyms
soreness,
pain,
sensitivity,
smart,
bruising,
ache,
aching,
irritation,
inflammation,
rawness,
sensitiveness,
painfulness
in the sense of torment
Definition
physical or mental pain
We spent our days in torment, waiting for news.
Synonyms
suffering,
distress,
misery,
pain,
hell (informal),
torture,
agony,
anguish
in the sense of torment
Definition
to cause (someone) great pain or suffering
At times, memories returned to torment her.
Synonyms
torture,
pain,
distress,
afflict,
rack,
harrow,
crucify,
agonize,
excruciate
in the sense of torture
Definition
physical or mental anguish
Waiting for the result was torture.
Synonyms
agony,
suffering,
misery,
anguish,
hell (informal),
distress,
torment,
heartbreak
in the sense of torture
Definition
to cause (someone) mental anguish
He would not torture her further by arguing.
Synonyms
distress,
torment,
worry,
trouble,
pain,
rack,
afflict,
harrow,
agonize,
give someone grief (British, South Africa),
inflict anguish on
in the sense of tribulation
Definition
great distress
the trials and tribulations of everyday life
Synonyms
trouble,
care,
suffering,
worry,
trial,
blow,
pain,
burden,
distress,
grief,
misery,
curse,
ordeal,
hardship,
sorrow,
woe,
hassle (informal),
misfortune,
bad luck,
unhappiness,
heartache,
adversity,
affliction,
bummer (slang),
wretchedness,
vexation,
ill fortune,
cross to bear
in the sense of twinge
Definition
a sudden brief darting or stabbing pain
the occasional twinge of indigestion
Synonyms
pain,
sharp pain,
gripe,
stab,
bite,
twist,
stitch,
pinch,
throb,
twitch,
prick,
spasm,
tweak,
tic
in the sense of vex
Definition
to cause (someone) to feel annoyance or irritation
Everything about that man vexes me.
Synonyms
annoy,
bother,
irritate,
worry,
trouble,
upset,
disturb,
distress,
provoke,
bug (informal),
offend,
needle (informal),
plague,
put out,
tease,
torment,
harass,
hassle (informal),
aggravate (informal),
afflict,
fret,
gall,
agitate,
exasperate,
nettle,
pester,
displease,
rile,
pique,
peeve (informal),
grate on,
get on your nerves (informal),
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
give someone grief (British, South Africa),
get your back up,
put your back up,
hack you off (informal)
in the sense of woe
Definition
intense grief
He listened to my tale of woe.
Synonyms
misery,
suffering,
trouble,
pain,
disaster,
depression,
distress,
grief,
agony,
gloom,
sadness,
hardship,
sorrow,
anguish,
misfortune,
unhappiness,
heartache,
heartbreak,
adversity,
dejection,
wretchedness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of worry
Definition
to annoy or bother
‘Why didn't you tell us?’ – ‘Didn't want to worry you.’
Synonyms
trouble,
upset,
harry,
bother,
disturb,
distress,
annoy,
plague,
irritate,
tease,
unsettle,
torment,
harass,
hassle (informal),
badger,
hector,
disquiet,
pester,
vex,
perturb,
tantalize,
importune (formal),
make anxious
in the sense of wound
Definition
to cause an injury to the body or feelings of
He was deeply wounded by the treachery of his closest friends.