Pain
UK /["/peɪn/"]/US /["/peɪn/"]/
Definition
the feelings that you have in your body when you have been hurt or when you are ill
In simple words: unpleasant feeling or discomfort in the body
Examples
- She felt a sharp pain in her knee after the fall.
- He could hear the pain in her voice when she spoke.
- After the workout, I felt pain in my muscles.
- Emotional pain can sometimes be more difficult to handle than physical pain.
Usage notes
Used in both formal and informal contexts. Avoid using it lightly; can be serious when discussing medical issues.
Grammar pattern
standalone noun
Memory hint
Think of a 'pain-t' that hurts when you accidentally touch it.
Collocations
- acute
- agonizing
- awful
- spasm
- stab
- be in
- be racked with
- experience
- begin
- come
- occur
- control
- management
- relief
- pain in
- aches and pains
- a cry of pain
- a threshold for pain
- great
- immense
- intense
- cause (somebody)
- give somebody
- inflict
- the pain etched on somebody’s face
Synonyms
- ache
- hurt
- soreness
- discomfort
- agony
Antonyms
- pleasure
- comfort
- well-being
Common mistakes
- Confused with 'gain', often misspoke as 'pain' when meaning something positive.
- Using inappropriately in casual contexts, like joking about serious conditions.
- Mixing up with 'ache', which denotes a less intense sensation.