DictionaryAI

pain

PAYN/peɪn/

Pluralpains

Verbpains, paining, pained

8 meanings of pain

Practice

  1. 1
    physical feelingnouncountable or uncountable
    A hurting feeling in your body, such as when you are injured, ill, or giving birth.

    Like an alarm in your body that tells you something is wrong.

    The pain in my knee got worse after the long walk.

    She felt a sharp pain when she touched the hot pan.

    UsageSay I'm in pain or I have a pain in my side.

    Oppositerelief, comfort

    Note
  2. 2
    heartachenoununcountable
    A deep feeling of sadness or suffering in the mind.

    Like a heavy weight pressing on your heart.

    The pain of losing her best friend stayed with her for years.

    He could see the pain in his father's eyes.

    UsageSay the pain of losing someone.

    Similardistress, anguish, grief, torment, hardship

    Oppositejoy, happiness, pleasure, comfort

    Note
  3. 3
    nuisancenouncolloquialcountable
    Someone or something that is very annoying.

    Like a small stone in your shoe that keeps bothering you.

    Filling out all these forms is such a pain.

    My little brother can be a real pain when he's bored.

    UsageOften a real pain or such a pain.

    Similarnuisance, annoyance, bother, pest, hassle

    Oppositejoy, delight, pleasure

    Note
  4. 4
    make sadverbtransitive
    To hurt someone, in their body or their feelings, or to make them sad.

    It pains me to see my old dog so sick.

    I don't want to pain you with bad news.

    UsageSay It pains me to say this when you are sorry to say it.

    Similarhurt, grieve, distress, upset, wound

    Oppositeplease, delight, comfort

    Note
  5. 5
    effortnouncountable or uncountableplural
    Careful effort or hard work put into doing something well.

    She took great pains to get every word just right.

    All his pains finally paid off when the bridge held.

    UsageSay take pains to do something: She took pains to explain it clearly.

    Similareffort, work, exertion

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 6
    be soreverbIndiaintransitive
    To hurt or feel sore.

    My head is paining, so I will lie down for a while.

    Does it pain when you walk on that foot?

    Similarache, hurt, suffer, agonize

    Note
  2. 7
    penaltynoundateduncountable
    Punishment given for breaking a rule or law.

    The king ordered them to leave the city on pain of death.

    We will, by way of mulct or pain, lay it upon him.
    1629, Francis Bacon, An Advertisement Touching a Holy WarHere, pain means a punishment for breaking a rule.

    UsageMostly used in on pain of before a punishment, as in on pain of death.

    Similarpenalty, punishment

    Note
  3. 8
    verbobsoletetransitive
    To punish someone by making them suffer.
    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of pain apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It came through Middle English and Old French from Latin poena, meaning 'punishment' or 'pain', which came from a Greek word for a payment or penalty.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 4 facts