pain

noun

\ˈpān

Definition of pain

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : punishment the pains and penalties of crime

2a : 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.

on pain of or under pain of

: subject to penalty or punishment of made to leave the country on pain of death

pain

verb

pained; paining; pains

Definition of pain (Entry 2 of 2)

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

Other Words from pain Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about pain

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of pain in a Sentence

Noun

The medication may upset your stomach but if you experience acute abdominal pain call your doctor. I've had chronic back pain since the accident. The medicine provides 12 hours of pain relief. I feel a dull pain if I touch the bruise. the pain of a difficult childhood It is a story about the joys and pains of life. Rush hour traffic is such a pain. This orange is a pain to peel.

Verb

As much as it pains me to admit it, she was right. my poor head was paining so from all that racket

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Every time the hand banged on his bed frame or brushed against his twin brother, streaks of pain burned through his body. — Mike Vorel, The Seattle Times, "Seahawks linebacker Shaquem Griffin keeps telling his story so that kids like these can tell theirs," 21 Nov. 2018 But while there are so many various ways or hacks of shopping on Instagram, one thing that was very, very clear is that there is a big pain point that everyone shares. — Ashley Carman, The Verge, "Instagram is creating a ‘personalized mall’ for everyone," 21 Nov. 2018 That basic fact — that women who study dance have chosen to internalize appalling amounts of pain and suffering for their craft — becomes one of the driving elements of horror in Guadagnino’s Suspiria. — Aja Romano, Vox, "How Suspiria turns the color red into a plot point," 9 Nov. 2018 Forty-five minutes of sumo wrestling has caused me five years of back pain, so ... — Eric Johnson, Recode, "Full Q&A: Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Recode Decode," 2 Nov. 2018 Depression, anxiety, eating disorders, trauma—these are just a few examples of the forces that can lead to this tornado of pain. — Rachel Epstein, Marie Claire, "Lady Gaga Gave an Incredibly Powerful Speech at Elle's Women in Hollywood Event," 16 Oct. 2018 Cincinnati Enquirer Ohio plans to give $3 million to a business that's working to make an abuse-free prescription pain medication as part of an effort to reduce overdose deaths in the state. — Terry Demio, Cincinnati.com, "Ohio to give nearly $3 million to tech business making abuse-resistant opioid," 10 July 2018 Sure, there's the pain and heartbreak, and the ritual of taking a pint (or five) of ice cream to the face. — Teen Vogue, "The Best Happy Breakup Songs, from "Thank U, Next" to "No Scrubs"," 7 Nov. 2018 Anal play should be pain-free, so take it slow and pile on the lube (or spit). — Zoë Ligon, Allure, "9 Things You Need to Know Before You Have Anal," 5 Nov. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

How ought outspoken survivors all feel, having aired indignities and pain publicly and across generations, to receive lip service from politicians, but ultimately see justice evaporate again? — Sarah Stankorb, Glamour, "Are Hashtags Like #MeToo and #BelieveWomen Hurting or Helping Survivors?," 15 Oct. 2018 Families say the way they were notified ends up being the searing, specific detail that pains them long after their loved one is buried. — Christie Thompson, sacbee, "Your loved one dies. The prison leaves a voicemail," 22 June 2018 And while Kerr was more than happy to be part of the tribute, the reality that these sorts of tributes are becoming so commonplace pains him. — Sam Amick, USA TODAY, "Steve Kerr on Rockets' Santa Fe shooting tribute: 'Agonizing' that it will happen again," 24 May 2018 But what pains her even more is that the party that claims black women are its backbone is also undermining them. — Terrell Jermaine Starr, The Root, "The Progressive Revolution Is Being Led by a Black Woman," 10 Apr. 2018 Wenger also revealed how much each defeat pains him, calling every loss a 'scar'. — SI.com, "Arsene Wenger Indicates Arsenal May Not Be the Last Club He Manages," 28 Mar. 2018 American gynecology was borne from these practices, and its damaging effects still permeates in the false belief that Black women don't experience pain the ways other women do. — Jenn M. Jackson, Teen Vogue, "Black Women Are Not Your Superheroes," 9 July 2018 Ellie was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor at just 4 months, which made chemo, hospital visits and pain constant variables in the child's short life. — Sarah Schreiber, Good Housekeeping, "Heartbroken Mom Posts Photo of Her Daughter's Car Seat As She Brings Home Her Ashes," 20 Mar. 2017 While the thought of never getting to know Mason pains Brittani, the image left her somewhat at ease, realizing that Mason's sister was already protecting him. — Marlisse Cepeda, Woman's Day, "Incredible Sonogram Photo Shows Unborn Child Holding Her Dying Twin's Hand," 17 Feb. 2016

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.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for pain

pain

noun

English Language Learners Definition of pain

(Entry 1 of 2)

: 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

English Language Learners Definition of pain (Entry 2 of 2)

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

See the full definition for pain in the English Language Learners Dictionary

pain

noun

\ˈpān

Kids Definition of pain

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

Other Words from pain

painful \ˈpān-fəl \ adjective

painfully \-fə-lē \ adverb

painless \-ləs \ adjective

pain

verb

pained; paining

Kids Definition of pain (Entry 2 of 2)

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

pain

noun

\ˈpān

Medical Definition of pain

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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