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pain

noun \ ˈpān \
|Updated on: 15 Jun 2018

Definition of pain

1 : punishment
  • the pains and penalties of crime
2 a : usually localized physical suffering associated with bodily disorder (such as a disease or an injury)
  • the pain of a twisted ankle
; also : a basic bodily sensation induced by a noxious stimulus, received by naked nerve endings, characterized by physical discomfort (such as pricking, throbbing, or aching), and typically leading to evasive action
  • the pain of bee stings
b : acute mental or emotional distress or suffering : grief
  • the pain she had felt at those humiliating words
  • —Morley Callaghan
3 pains plural : the throes of childbirth
4 pains plural : trouble, care, or effort taken to accomplish something
  • was at pains to reassure us
5 : one that irks or annoys or is otherwise troublesome —often used in such phrases as pain in the neck
  • His little sister is a real pain in the neck.
—

painless

play \ˈpān-ləs\ adjective
—

painlessly

adverb
—

painlessness

noun
— on pain of or under pain of
: subject to penalty or punishment of
  • made to leave the country on pain of death

See pain defined for English-language learners

See pain defined for kids

Examples of pain in a Sentence

  1. The medication may upset your stomach but if you experience acute abdominal pain call your doctor.

  2. I've had chronic back pain since the accident.

  3. The medicine provides 12 hours of pain relief.

  4. I feel a dull pain if I touch the bruise.

  5. the pain of a difficult childhood

  6. It is a story about the joys and pains of life.

  7. Rush hour traffic is such a pain.

  8. This orange is a pain to peel.

Recent Examples of pain from the Web

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

Origin and Etymology of pain

Middle English, from Anglo-French peine, from Latin poena, from Greek poinē payment, penalty; akin to Greek tinein to pay, tinesthai to punish, Avestan kaēnā revenge, Sanskrit cayate he revenges

pain Synonyms

Synonyms

care, carefulness, closeness, conscientiousness, heed, heedfulness, meticulousness, scrupulousness;

Antonyms

heedlessness, inattentiveness, negligence;

Near Antonyms

inadvertence, inadvertency, inattention, inobservance;

Related Words

advertence, advertency, attention, concentration, focus, observance, observation;

alertness, mindfulness, vigilance, watchfulness;

dutifulness, irreproachability, irreproachableness, punctiliousness, responsibility;

bother, effort, painstaking, trouble;

exactness, particularity, precision;

2

pain

verb

Definition of pain

transitive verb
1 : to make suffer or cause distress to : hurt
2 archaic : to put (oneself) to trouble or exertion
intransitive verb
1 archaic : suffer
2 : to give or have a sensation of pain

See pain defined for English-language learners

Examples of pain in a Sentence

  1. As much as it pains me to admit it, she was right.

  2. my poor head was paining so from all that racket

Recent Examples of pain from the Web

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

First Known Use of pain

14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

pain Synonyms

Synonyms

ache, hurt, smart;

Related Words

bite, bleed, burn, chafe, cramp, fester, itch, nag, pinch, pound, rack, sting, swell, throb, tingle, twinge;

agonize, anguish, suffer;

afflict, harrow, torment, torture;

Phrases Related to PAIN

Related Phrases

PAIN Defined for English Language Learners

pain

noun

Definition of pain for English Language Learners

  • : the physical feeling caused by disease, injury, or something that hurts the body

  • : mental or emotional suffering : sadness caused by some emotional or mental problem

  • : someone or something that causes trouble or makes you feel annoyed or angry

pain

verb

Definition of pain for English Language Learners

  • : to cause (someone) to feel emotional pain : to make (someone) upset, sad, worried, etc.

PAIN Defined for Kids

1

pain

noun \ ˈpān \

Definition of pain for Students

1 : physical suffering that accompanies a bodily disorder (as a disease or an injury)
  • The medicine relieves pain.
2 : a very unpleasant feeling (as a prick or an ache) that is caused especially by something harmful
  • I have a pain in my side.
3 : suffering of the mind or emotions : grief
  • The humiliation brought her great pain.
4 pains plural : great care or effort
  • My sister took pains with the garden.
5 : someone or something annoying
—

painful

\ˈpān-fəl\ adjective
—

painfully

\-fə-lē\ adverb
—

painless

\-ləs\ adjective
2

pain

verb

Definition of pain for Students

pained; paining
1 : to cause physical or mental suffering in or to
  • It pains me to think of it.
2 : to give or feel physical or mental suffering
  • The suckers, which were fastened to me and pained greatly, lessened their hold.
  • —Scott O'Dell, Island of the Blue Dolphins

Medical Dictionary

1

pain

noun \ ˈpān \

medical Definition of pain

1 a : a state of physical, emotional, or mental lack of well-being or physical, emotional, or mental uneasiness that ranges from mild discomfort or dull distress to acute often unbearable agony, may be generalized or localized, and is the consequence of being injured or hurt physically or mentally or of some derangement of or lack of equilibrium in the physical or mental functions (as through disease), and that usually produces a reaction of wanting to avoid, escape, or destroy the causative factor and its effects
  • was in constant pain
b : a basic bodily sensation that is induced by a noxious stimulus, is received by naked nerve endings, is characterized by physical discomfort (as pricking, throbbing, or aching), and typically leads to evasive action
2 pains plural : the protracted series of involuntary contractions of the uterine musculature that constitute the major factor in parturient labor and that are often accompanied by considerable pain
  • her pains had begun
2

pain

transitive verb

medical Definition of pain

: to make suffer or cause distress to
intransitive verb
: to give or have a sensation of pain

Law Dictionary

pain

noun

legal Definition of pain

1 : punishment
2 a : physical discomfort associated with bodily disorder (as disease or injury)
b : acute mental or emotional suffering
—

painless

adjective
—

painlessly

adverb
— on pain of or under pain of
: subject to penalty or punishment of
  • ordered not to leave the country on pain of death

Learn More about pain

  1. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for pain Spanish Central: Translation of pain Nglish: Translation of pain for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of pain for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pain

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