headache

noun

head·​ache ˈhed-ˌāk How to pronounce headache (audio)
1
: pain in the head
2
: a vexatious or baffling situation or problem
meetings had become a giant headacheFranklin Foer
headachy adjective
or less commonly headachey

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 on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Symptoms usually appear three to seven days after being bitten and include fever, joint pain, headache, muscle pain, swelling or skin rash. Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025 Take the headache out of toy assembly and be prepared with 40-pack batteries at-the-ready for $2 off. Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025 More than just pretty light shows For satellites, navigation systems and communication technologies, these geomagnetic storms can be quite the headache. Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2025 License activation can also cause headaches if the software is tied to the old machine, so always deactivate before reinstalling. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for headache

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of headache was before the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Headache.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headache. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

headache

noun
head·​ache ˈhed-ˌāk How to pronounce headache (audio)
1
: pain in the head
2
: an annoying or baffling situation or problem
headachy adjective

Medical Definition

headache

noun
head·​ache ˈhed-ˌāk How to pronounce headache (audio)
: pain in the head

called also cephalalgia

headachy adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on headache

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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