headache

1 of 2

noun

head·​ache ˈhed-ˌāk 

1

: pain in the head

2

: a vexatious or baffling situation or problem

… meetings had become a giant headache.

—Franklin Foer

headachy adjective

or less commonly headachey

ˈhed-ˌā-kē 

headachy

2 of 2

adjective

head·​achy ˈhed-ˌā-kē 

variants or less commonly headachey

-er/-est

1

: having headache

2

: causing headache or attended by headache

Synonyms of headache

Noun

• job
• killer
• burden
• effort

Examples of headache in a Sentence

Noun

I'm starting to get a headache.

The symptoms include fever and headache.

The city's biggest headache is traffic.

Managing your finances can be a real headache.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Stay prepared for those just-in-case scenarios by stocking everything from itch creams and allergy meds to cold and headache remedies. —Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 14 June 2026

For young children, anxiety might show up as physical complaints like tummy aches or headaches, while older kids may feel nervous and struggle to concentrate. —Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 14 June 2026

For Zandalasini, she was originally diagnosed with a jaw injury before dealing with a headache the next day. —Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2026

Some wearers experienced side effects including headache, lowered mood and discomfort wearing the glasses, though similar issues showed up with non-filtering lenses too. —Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1795, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing headache

• cluster headache
• ice-cream headache
• pre-headache
• sick headache
• splitting headache
• tension headache

Rhymes for headache

• awake
• backache
• beefsteak
• betake
• cheesecake
• cupcake
• daybreak
• earthquake
• forsake
• gouache
• handshake
• heartache

Video

An Abbreviated History of American English Spelling

Soop, wimmen, and headake did not make the cut

Kids Definition

headache

noun

head·​ache ˈhed-ˌāk 

1

: pain in the head

2

: an annoying or baffling situation or problem

headachy

-ˌā-kē 

adjective

Medical Definition

headache

noun

head·​ache ˈhed-ˌāk 

: pain in the head

called also cephalalgia

headachy

-ˌā-kē 

adjective