# pained

/ˈpeɪnd/ (US) · /pˈeɪnd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pained
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

feeling a strong sense of sadness or worry. You use this to describe someone who is upset by something they have seen or heard.

For teachers: experiencing a deep sense of distress, sorrow, or mental anguish. Often used to describe a facial expression or a reaction to a specific event.

## Examples

- She looked pained when she heard the bad news.
- The witness gave a pained expression as he described the accident to the police.
- The artist's latest series is a pained reflection on the loss of his childhood home, capturing the emotional weight of the memory through muted colors and heavy brushstrokes.

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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.