1
a(1)
: a localized or generalized unpleasant bodily sensation or complex of sensations that causes mild to severe physical discomfort and emotional distress and typically results from bodily disorder (such as injury or disease)
acute shooting pains
also
: the state marked by the presence of such sensations
was in constant pain
(2)
: a basic bodily sensation that is induced by a noxious stimulus, is received by naked nerve endings, is associated with actual or potential tissue damage, is characterized by physical discomfort (such as pricking, throbbing, or aching), and typically leads to evasive action
b
: mental or emotional distress or suffering : grief
the pain she had felt at those humiliating words—
Morley Callaghan
Morley Callaghan2
informal
: one that irks or annoys or is otherwise troublesome
… almost everything requires a password these days, and it can be a real pain to remember them all.—Michael Cahlin
—often used in such phrases as pain in the neck or (impolite) pain in the ass/buttMichael CahlinHis little sister is a real pain in the neck.
3
pains plural
: trouble, care, or effort taken to accomplish something
was at pains to reassure us
4
pains plural
: the throes of childbirth
5
: punishment
the pains and penalties of crime
pained; paining; pains
1
: to make suffer or cause distress to : hurt
2
archaic
: to put (oneself) to trouble or exertion
Synonyms
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
Jianying Zhang, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
Culkin says the pain of Dakota’s death is something he’s had to learn to live with.
—Rachel Flynn, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Alicia Wallace, CNN, 4 Oct. 2024
This approach has been used for spine pain for decades, but it is now being applied more widely to pain from other areas of the body.
—Rachael Rzasa Lynn, The Conversation, 25 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for pain 
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.
Noun
Persistent back pain is another indicator – this, too, is the result of tiny fractures or compression of the spine.
—Jianying Zhang, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
Culkin says the pain of Dakota’s death is something he’s had to learn to live with.
—Rachel Flynn, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
While people, by and large, are more likely to have a job and more likely to have higher wages, that doesn’t mean there isn’t still pain in the labor market or within household finances, Gould said.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN, 4 Oct. 2024
This approach has been used for spine pain for decades, but it is now being applied more widely to pain from other areas of the body.
—Rachael Rzasa Lynn, The Conversation, 25 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for pain
Dictionary Entries Near pain
Cite this Entry
“Pain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pain. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pain
1 of 2 noun1
: punishment sense 2
under pain of death
2
a
: physical suffering associated with disease, injury, or other bodily disorder
a pain in the back
b
: a basic bodily sensation that is caused by something harmful, is accompanied by physical discomfort (as pricking, throbbing, or aching), and usually makes one try to escape its source
3
: mental distress : grief
4
plural
: the suffering experienced during childbirth
5
plural
: great care or effort
took pains with their work
painlessly
adverb
pain
2 of 2 verb1
: to cause pain in or to : hurt
2
: to give or feel pain
Medical Definition
pain
1 of 2 noun1
a(1)
: a localized or generalized unpleasant bodily sensation or complex of sensations that causes mild to severe physical discomfort and emotional distress and typically results from bodily disorder (as injury or disease)
acute shooting pains
also
: the state marked by the presence of such sensations
was in constant pain
(2)
: a basic bodily sensation that is induced by a noxious stimulus, is received by naked nerve endings, is associated with actual or potential tissue damage, is characterized by physical discomfort (as pricking, throbbing, or aching), and typically leads to evasive action
b
: mental or emotional distress or suffering
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
pain
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to make suffer or cause distress to
: to give or have a sensation of pain
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share