Pain — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈpān/

Meaning & Definition of Pain

Pain (noun)

  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); also, the state marked by the presence of such sensations
  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
  3. mental or emotional distress or suffering, grief

Pain (verb)

  1. to make suffer or cause distress to, hurt
  2. to put (oneself) to trouble or exertion
  3. to give or have a sensation of pain

Pain (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body

    "the child was crying because of a pain in her knee"

  2. a state of great suffering of body or mind

    "a sprained ankle caused him great pain for a week"

  3. strict attentiveness to what one is doing

    "asked the movers to take pains to be sure that they didn't damage anything while moving the furniture"

  4. the active use of energy in producing a result

    "she was at pains to reassure us that everything would be fine"

  5. one who is obnoxiously annoying

    "sometimes that child, who apparently never tires of asking questions, can be such a pain"

Pain (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to feel or cause physical pain

    "my poor head was paining so from all that racket"

    similar: ache, hurt, smart

Related Entry: Pain in the neck (phrase)

Pain in the neck is a different word from Pain. The synonyms below are for pain in the neck, not for pain.

  1. one who is obnoxiously annoying

    "That guy's always been a pain in the neck and I just try to ignore him."

Related Entry: Painkiller (noun)

Painkiller is a different word from Pain. The synonyms below are for painkiller, not for pain.

  1. something (as a drug) that relieves pain

    "after her oral surgery, she was given a prescription for a mild painkiller"

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Pain

The most common words with a similar meaning to Pain:

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Pain

Words with the opposite meaning of Pain:

Near Antonyms of Pain

Word Forms of Pain

Inflections: pained, paining, pains

Origin & 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

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Pain

Words & Phrases Containing Pain

Frequently Asked Questions about Pain

What does "Pain" mean?

"Pain" means 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); also, the state marked by the presence of such sensations. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: 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); also, the state marked by the presence of such sensations. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Pain"?

Other words for "Pain" include ache, pang, prick, shoot, smart, sting, stitch and throe. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Pain" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Pain"?

There are 160 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Pain". Common alternatives include ache, pang, prick, shoot, smart, sting, stitch, throe, tingle and twinge.

What is the opposite of "Pain"?

Antonyms of "Pain" include heedlessness, inattentiveness and negligence. Near antonyms include comfort, ease, easiness and consolation.

How do you use "Pain" in a sentence?

Examples of "Pain" in a sentence: "the child was crying because of a pain in her knee"; "a sprained ankle caused him great pain for a week"; "asked the movers to take pains to be sure that they didn't damage anything while moving the furniture".

Is "Pain" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Pain" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Pain" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Pain" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Pain"?

"Pain" is pronounced /ˈpān/.