headache

play

noun head·ache \ ˈhed-ˌāk \

Definition of headache

1 :pain in the head

2 :a vexatious or baffling situation or problem

meetings had become a giant headache
—Franklin Foer

—

headachy

or less commonly headachey play \ˈhed-ˌā-kē\ adjective

See headache defined for English-language learners

See headache defined for kids

Examples of headache in a Sentence

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 of headache from the Web

A consensus grew among Uber board members that Mr. Khosrowshahi was a stronger candidate who came with fewer potential headaches.

— mike isaac, New York Times, "Inside Uber’s Wild Ride in a Search of a New C.E.O.," 29 Aug. 2017
People in their late 40s and early 50s are often at the peak of their careers (will all the headaches that entails), and many are dealing with unruly adolescent children to boot.

— christopher ingraham, chicagotribune.com, "Under 50? You still haven't hit rock bottom, happiness-wise.," 28 Aug. 2017
But for a student who becomes sensitive to loud noises that can trigger headaches or migraines, getting excused from band or choir for a few days and eating lunch in a quiet room might be what a school needs to provide, Benjamin said.

— suzanne baker, Naperville Sun, "Big spike in District 203 concussion numbers tied to parental reporting," 26 Aug. 2017
ADPH said one in five people who are infected experience symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rashes.

— jonece starr dunigan, AL.com, "West Nile claims one life in Alabama, 9 cases being investigated," 25 Aug. 2017
Doctors examining them diagnosed brain injuries that led to complaints of nausea, hearing loss, headaches and balance loss.

— carol morello, Washington Post, "16 Americans suffered injuries while stationed at U.S. Embassy in Havana," 24 Aug. 2017
Luckily, BuzzFeed reports a headache post-eclipse is probably not a sign of retinal damage.

— brittney mcnamara, Teen Vogue, "How to Tell If You Burned Your Eyes From Looking at the Solar Eclipse," 22 Aug. 2017
Most people infected with Zika do not experience symptoms or will only have mild effects, including fever, rash, headache, joint and muscle pain and red eyes, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

— daniel chang, miamiherald, "Florida reports first sexually transmitted Zika infection of 2017," 1 Aug. 2017
Per the NFL Network, the long trip back to from Lufkin was complicated by a sinus infection and headaches, causing him to show up three hours late.

— clarence e. hill jr., star-telegram, "Dez Bryant late, David Irving misses Cowboys training camp check in," 21 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'headache.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of headache

before 12th century

headache Synonyms

Synonyms

bear, beast, chore, job, killer, labor

Related Words

drudgery, grind, heavy lifting, lucubration; effort, strain, sweat; burden, load, weight; bother, nuisance, trouble

Near Antonyms

breeze, child's play, cinch, duck soup, kid stuff, setup, snap

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

HEADACHE Defined for English Language Learners

headache

play

noun

Definition of headache for English Language Learners

: an ache or pain in the head
: a difficult or annoying situation or problem

HEADACHE Defined for Kids

headache

play

noun head·ache \ ˈhed-ˌāk \

Definition of headache for Students

1 :pain in the head

2 :something that annoys or confuses

This traffic is a real headache.

Medical Dictionary

headache

play

noun head·ache \ ˈhed-ˌāk \

medical Definition of headache

:pain in the head — called also cephalalgia

—

headachy

play \-ˌā-kē\ adjective

Learn More about headache

See words that rhyme with headache Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for headache Spanish Central: Translation of headache Nglish: Translation of headache for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of headache for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about headache

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up headache? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

headache

Definition of headache

headachy

Read the Latest from M-W

Examples of headache in a Sentence

Recent Examples of headache from the Web

First Known Use of headache

headache Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Medicine Terms

Phrases Related to HEADACHE

Related Phrases

HEADACHE Defined for English Language Learners

headache

Definition of headache for English Language Learners

HEADACHE Defined for Kids

headache

Definition of headache for Students

Medical Dictionary

headache

medical Definition of headache

headachy

Learn More about headache

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066