# aching

/ˈeɪkɪŋ/ (US) · /ˈeɪkɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/aching
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

feeling a steady, dull pain that is not very sharp but lasts for a long time. You often use this to describe muscles after exercise or a part of your body when you are sick.

For teachers: characterised by a continuous, dull, and persistent pain. Often used predicatively after linking verbs or attributively to describe a physical sensation or emotional longing.

## Examples

- My legs are aching after that long run.
- She sat down with a sigh, rubbing her aching shoulders after a full day of moving heavy boxes into the new apartment.
- The athlete pushed through the final mile despite his aching joints, knowing that the recovery period would be as demanding as the race itself.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I have an aching in my arm" but "I have an ache in my arm" — Learners often use the participial adjective 'aching' as a noun instead of the standard noun 'ache'.

## Usage notes

- Often follows linking verbs like 'feel', 'be', or 'seem'; frequently pairs with 'muscles', 'limbs', or 'heart'.

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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.