# headache

/ˈhɛˌdeɪk/ (US) · /hˈɛdeɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/headache
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. physical pain

noun · CEFR A2

a pain or ache inside your head.

For teachers: a continuous pain in the head, ranging from mild discomfort to severe migraine.

- I need to lie down because I have a terrible headache from the loud music.
- The patient reported a persistent, throbbing headache that worsened whenever he was exposed to bright fluorescent lighting.

### 2. a problem

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

something that causes you a lot of worry or trouble.

For teachers: a person or situation that causes significant annoyance, worry, or difficulty. Often used in professional or logistical contexts.

- Organising the office party was a real headache because everyone wanted different food.
- The sudden change in tax regulations has created a major administrative headache for small business owners across the country.

## Examples

- I have a bad headache and need to rest.
- The new tax laws are a real headache for small business owners this year.
- While the physical headache subsided after an hour, the logistical headache of rescheduling the entire conference remained for the rest of the week.

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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.