headache
- 01 A2 Elementary
a pain or ache inside your head.
a continuous pain in the head, ranging from mild discomfort to severe migraine.
Simple“I need to lie down because I have a terrible headache from the loud music.”
In context“The patient reported a persistent, throbbing headache that worsened whenever he was exposed to bright fluorescent lighting.”
PitfallI have a head ache. I have a headache.Headache is written as one single word, not two separate words.
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
something that causes you a lot of worry or trouble.
a person or situation that causes significant annoyance, worry, or difficulty. Often used in professional or logistical contexts.
Simple“Organising the office party was a real headache because everyone wanted different food.”
In context“The sudden change in tax regulations has created a major administrative headache for small business owners across the country.”
From Middle English hevedeche, from Old English hēafodeċe, equivalent to head + ache.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.