# throbbing

/ˈθɹɑbɪŋ/ (US) · /θɹˈɒbɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/throbbing
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

feeling a strong, regular beat, usually because of pain or a lot of energy. You use this to describe a headache or loud music that you can feel in your body.

For teachers: beating, pulsating, or vibrating with a strong, rhythmic intensity. Often used to describe physical pain or loud, low-frequency sounds; frequently appears as a participial adjective after linking verbs like 'feel' or 'be'.

## Examples

- I have a throbbing headache after that long meeting.
- The loud, throbbing bass from the party next door made it impossible for me to sleep.
- She sat in the quiet room, acutely aware of the throbbing ache in her ankle and the rhythmic ticking of the clock on the wall.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used both before a noun (attributive) and after a linking verb (predicative).

---

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.