ache

1 of 2

verb

ˈāk 

ached; aching

intransitive verb

1

a

: to suffer a usually dull persistent pain

an aching back

b

: to become distressed or disturbed (as with anxiety or regret)

aching with sadness

c

: to feel compassion

My heart aches for those poor people.

2

: to experience a painful eagerness or yearning

He is aching to go.

ache

2 of 2

noun

1

: a usually dull persistent pain

had an ache in his back

2

: a condition marked by aching

looked through the old pictures with a dull ache in her heart

Synonyms

Verb

• hurt
• pain
• smart

Noun

• pain
• pang
• prick
• shoot
• smart
• sting
• stitch
• throe
• tingle
• twinge

Examples of ache in a Sentence

Verb

Her muscles were aching from shoveling snow.

After running the marathon, his body ached for a week.

The candy's so sweet that it makes my teeth ache.

Noun

He had a dull ache in his back from lifting boxes all day.

a dull pounding ache in his head

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Name Your Sorrow follows through on the promise of its title, with the group diving headfirst into complicated, aching songs about heartbreak, grief, loss, and ulitmately elation, all encompased in cozy, occasionally haunting indie-rock stylings. —Stephen Daw, Billboard, 19 Apr. 2024

There’s a baleful, country sound to the score, by the folk duo Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance) and Levine (who is also credited with music supervision, orchestration and arrangements) suited to the Oklahoma setting and an aching desire to escape it. —Naveen Kumar, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024

And McCrimmon, whose voice grows more majestic and multi-hued as the musical’s emotion ramps up, delivers this aching anthem with heartrending virtuosity. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024

Say goodbye to dry, cracked skin, aching fingers, and tired wrists, with this cream made just for your hands. 10. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024

That night after the rescue, Florian posted on Instagram that his arms were aching from carrying Stevie, but his heart was full. —Cathy Free, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024

Dorothy has dazzling adventures over the rainbow but aches for just one thing: Home. —Teri Sforza, Orange County Register, 4 Feb. 2024

All the scenes are full of aching vulnerability and reluctant intimacy. —Sam Hurwitt, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2024

My throat was raw, and the Achilles’ tendon in my right leg started to ache. —Paul Tough, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2024

Noun

This felt deeper: an ache that spread throughout her shoulder, down to her elbow. —Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 12 Apr. 2024

The 24-page document lists commonly recognized adverse reactions, including pain, swelling, muscle aches and fever. —James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024

This can feel like a dull ache or a sharp pain and also cause swelling and tenderness in the affected area. —Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024

Everest’s full spectrum CBD oil is an easy recommendation for those looking for relief from their aches and pain. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024

The disease can cause fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, conjunctival suffusion, jaundice, and rash, Celia Quinn, the deputy commissioner for the Division of Disease Control, who issued an April 12 memo warning of the disease. —Louis Casiano, Fox News, 18 Apr. 2024

However, symptoms may include fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, conjunctival suffusion, jaundice, and rash, the city said. —Jon Haworth, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2024

Some symptoms to watch out for post-delivery include worsening pelvic pain, fever, constipation, chills, and body aches. —Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 15 Apr. 2024

These can go a long way in relieving you of aches and discomfort. —Hilary Tetenbaum, Detroit Free Press, 8 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English aken, going back to Old English acan, of uncertain origin

Note: Originally a Class VI strong verb, to judge by Middle English past tense forms such as eoc, ok, etc. (no preterit forms are attested in Old English). There is no counterpart to the verb in other Germanic languages, and words adduced as possible relatives (e.g., Middle Dutch akel "harm, injury, grief," Middle Low German ēken "to fester") are formally and semantically only vaguely comparable. Regarding the spelling see note at ache entry 2.

Noun

Middle English, going back to Old English æce, ece, noun derivative from the base of acan "to ache entry 1"

Note: The spelling with -ch-, reflecting the historical pronunciation of the noun, has spread to the verb, while the pronunciation of the verb with [k], continued from Old English, has spread to the noun since late Middle English. The persistence of the spelling with -ch- may have been influenced by Samuel Johnson's mistaken notion that the word derived from Greek áchos "pain, distress."

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

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

Kids Definition

ache

1 of 2 verb

ˈāk 

ached; aching

1

: to suffer a dull persistent pain

2

: to long painfully : yearn

ache

2 of 2 noun

: a dull persistent pain

achy

ˈā-kē

adjective

Medical Definition

ache

1 of 3 intransitive verb

ˈāk 

ached; aching

: to suffer a usually dull persistent pain

ache

2 of 3 noun

1

: a usually dull persistent pain

2

: a condition marked by aching

AChE

3 of 3 abbreviation

acetylcholinesterase