headache

noun

head·​ache ˈhed-ˌāk How to pronounce headache (audio)
1
: pain in the head
2
: a vexatious or baffling situation or problem
meetings had become a giant headacheFranklin Foer
headachy adjective
or less commonly headachey

Examples of headache in a Sentence

I'm starting to get a headache. The symptoms include fever and headache. The city's biggest headache is traffic. Managing your finances can be a real headache.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Exposure to high concentrations can cause people to lose consciousness and can lead to long-term effects such as headaches, poor attention span, poor memory and poor motor function, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Noelle Phillips, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024 Common symptoms include a runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, sneezing, coughing, mild headache, and a low-grade fever. Brandi Jones, Msn-Ed, Health, 31 Oct. 2024 Lassa fever symptoms While Lassa fever can be deadly, most people experience only mild symptoms, including slight fever, feeling tired and weak and headaches. Sara Moniuszko, CBS News, 29 Oct. 2024 At first, banks were distracted, handling the headache of working through legacy loan books in the aftermath of the financial crisis. Christian Faes, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for headache 

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of headache was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near headache

Cite this Entry

“Headache.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headache. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

headache

noun
head·​ache ˈhed-ˌāk How to pronounce headache (audio)
1
: pain in the head
2
: an annoying or baffling situation or problem
headachy adjective

Medical Definition

headache

noun
head·​ache ˈhed-ˌāk How to pronounce headache (audio)
: pain in the head

called also cephalalgia

headachy adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on headache

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!