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Definitions

ache

[ayk] / eɪk /


VERB
feeling soreness or dull pain, often physical
Synonyms
Antonyms


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Ella can't remember when she first started grinding her teeth at night, but she can vividly recall the excruciating jaw ache, the headaches, and being told her molars were disappearing.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

You could ache for the cozy city of the past in “The Royal Tenenbaums” or grabble with the schism of everything suddenly feeling different in “Mulholland Drive.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

"It's tough work... the hardest part is carrying the seaweed back. It's very heavy and your shoulders ache afterwards."

From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026

Mr. Barragán, a reporter and researcher for the New York Times based in Madrid, is good on the small ache that makes the whole enterprise possible.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026

Everything fell away except that deep, deep ache.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

That is, until a few hours later when those uncomfortable muscle aches start setting in.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 14, 2026

The team, in conversation with Ohtani, failed to manage his workload and aches and pains in a way that would be sustainable for more of the year.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

She is in her late 70s and complains of nagging aches and pains, neuropathy, fatigue, anxiety, and occasional changes in her weight.

From Slate ● Sep. 9, 2026

"Has my body changed? I have no idea. I've got a few aches and pains, but if I sit in a chair for too long at my age I get aches and pains," he said.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

My spine aches in pain, but Nansi’s not done.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

Her mother ultimately relented and let her daughter attend art school, but Kusama ached to stretch beyond the country’s traditional Nihonga painting style.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

Before Edward and Bella took over the world, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” viewers ached for David Boreanaz’s Angel and James Marsters’ Spike, centuries-old bros who fall for a very special high school blonde.

From Salon ● Jun. 13, 2026

Those ached more than stung and left me completely voiceless for the following 24 hours.

From Slate ● Apr. 18, 2026

"My heart ached, and I could only pray: 'God, please don't let that happen.'"

From BBC ● Jan. 14, 2025

Had Jonn's heart been aching for him then as his ached for Jonn now?

From "Rowan of Rin" by Emily Rodda

Some go their whole lives searching for it, aching to find where they belong, or what gives them purpose.

From Salon ● Oct. 12, 2026

By the second day, her neck was aching and she was taking migraine medication to ward off headaches caused by intense microscope light.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

The morning after losing to Federer, an aching Willis limped to the shower at 4:30am to get ready for an interview on ITV's Good Morning Britain.

From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026

At the film’s aching core is the romantic tether between the boys that refuses to die even in the face of gory attacks, painful betrayals and even uncertainty among the two of them.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026

Ignoring the aching feeling that I’m losing my best friends, I leave Lily with Camille and stride confidently out the front door.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller


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