# ache

/ˈeɪk/ (US) · CEFR A2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ache
Updated: 2026-05-29

## Definition

to feel a continuous, dull pain in a part of your body. You use this word for pains that are not sharp or sudden.

For teachers: to suffer from a persistent, dull pain. Intransitive; typically used with body parts or general physical states.

## Examples

- My head aches after the long meeting.
- Her legs ached after hiking up the steep mountain trail all afternoon.
- The old injury ached whenever the weather turned cold, serving as a constant reminder of the accident years ago.

## Usage notes

- Intransitive verb; often followed by 'in' when specifying the location of the pain.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.