pain

[ peyn ]

noun

1. physical suffering or distress, as due to injury, illness, etc.

   Synonyms: torment, misery, torture

2. a distressing sensation in a particular part of the body:

   a back pain.

   Synonyms: stitch, twinge, pang, torment, misery, torture

3. mental or emotional suffering or torment:

   I am sorry my news causes you such pain.

   Synonyms: torment, misery, torture

   Antonyms: delight, joy

4. pains,
   1. laborious or careful efforts; assiduous care:

      Great pains have been taken to repair the engine perfectly.

   2. the suffering of childbirth.
5. Informal. an annoying or troublesome person or thing.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause physical pain to; hurt.
2. to cause (someone) mental or emotional pain; distress:

   Your sarcasm pained me.

   Synonyms: grieve, trouble, torment, afflict

   Antonyms: please

verb (used without object)

1. to have or give pain.

pain

/ 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
   subject to the penalty of
4. informal.
   Also calledpain in the necktaboopain in the arse a person or thing that is a nuisance

verb

1. to cause (a person) distress, hurt, grief, anxiety, etc
2. informal.
   to annoy; irritate

Other Words From

• under·pain noun
• un·paining adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pain¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English peine “punishment, torture, pain,” from Old French, from Latin poena “penalty, pain,” from Greek poinḗ “penalty”

Word History and Origins

Origin of pain¹

C13: from Old French peine, from Latin poena punishment, grief, from Greek poinē penalty

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. feel no pain, Informal. to be intoxicated:

   After all that free beer, we were feeling no pain.

2. on / upon / under pain of, liable to the penalty of:

   on pain of death.

3. pain in the ass, Slang: Vulgar. pain ( def 5 ).
4. pain in the neck, Informal. pain ( def 5 ).

More idioms and phrases containing pain

• at pains
• feel no pain
• for one's pains
• growing pains
• no pain, no gain
• on pain of

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Both measures were imposed on dubious grounds and have since inflicted serious pain for little gain.

From Los Angeles Times

And yes, as I’ve said, it’s been a particular illness that has really shaped who I am and has caused a lot of pain in the way it has for so many others.

From Los Angeles Times

Austin Butler — “Dune: Part Two” “Kieran Culkin winning an award for playing an extroverted charmer masking a deep well of pain? Didn’t that already happen with ‘Succession’?

From Los Angeles Times

Sparks echoed those sentiments: “I feel that everybody needs a night off. I think we should all celebrate cool culture and come together. Let’s have some fun and dance the pain away.”

From Los Angeles Times

The search for solutions, or relief from discomfort and pain, will be familiar to so many people.

From BBC

Related Words

• ache
• agony
• burn
• cramp
• discomfort
• fever
• illness
• injury
• irritation
• misery
• sickness
• soreness
• spasm
• strain
• tenderness
• torment
• trouble
• twinge
• wound