headache

noun

head·​ache ˈhed-ˌāk 

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

ˈhed-ˌā-kē 

Synonyms

• bear
• beast
• chore
• job
• killer
• labor

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

All of this poses a headache for bosses as political divisions may lead to lost productivity or even outright conflict in the workplace. —Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2024

Influenza, commonly called the flu, is a viral illness that causes respiratory symptoms as well as muscle aches, fever, headache, and fatigue. —Laura Dorwart, Verywell Health, 25 Oct. 2024

But these people who crowd the boarding area before their group is called — and even try to board out of turn — cause headaches for gate staff and travelers trying to board in the correct order. —Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 24 Oct. 2024

Listeria can cause fatal infections for children and the elderly and can cause serious symptoms such as fever, headache, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. —Ben Kesslen, Quartz, 21 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing headache

• cluster headache
• ice-cream headache
• pre-headache
• sick headache
• splitting headache
• tension headache

Video

An Abbreviated History of American English Spelling

Soop, wimmen, and headake did not make the cut

Kids Definition

headache

noun

head·​ache ˈhed-ˌāk 

1

: pain in the head

2

: an annoying or baffling situation or problem

headachy

-ˌā-kē 

adjective

Medical Definition

headache

noun

head·​ache ˈhed-ˌāk 

: pain in the head

called also cephalalgia

headachy

-ˌā-kē 

adjective