headache

noun

head·​ache ˈhed-ˌāk How to pronounce headache (audio)
Synonyms of headachenext
1
: pain in the head
2
: a vexatious or baffling situation or problem
… meetings had become a giant headache.Franklin 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.
Symptoms generally appear within one or two weeks of infection, and can include fever, headache, rash and body aches. City News Service, Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026 Building this into your trip early saves headaches later. Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026 Statins did not cause memory loss, depression, sleep disturbance, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, headache, or peripheral neuropathy. Vikas Patel, STAT, 3 Apr. 2026 For aspiring homeowners, the upsurge in borrowing costs is a major headache. Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026 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

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Cite this Entry

“Headache.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headache. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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

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