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verb B1 Intermediate Uncommon

ache

AYK
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Ache (verb) means to feel a dull, ongoing pain rather than a sharp, sudden one. Example: “My legs ached after the long hike.”

verb
1
To feel a dull, ongoing pain rather than a sharp, sudden one.
"My legs ached after the long hike."
"Her back had been aching all week from sitting at the desk."
2
To feel emotional pain or a strong longing for something.
"He ached for the life he used to have."
"She ached with loneliness after her friends moved away."
noun
1
A steady, dull pain, or a deep emotional hurt.
"The dentist gave her something for the ache in her tooth."
"There was a quiet ache in his voice when he talked about home."

How to use ache

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA lasting, dull pain — physical or emotional — as opposed to a sharp, sudden one.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "ake" — that spelling is obsolete; modern English always uses "ache" for both the verb and the noun.

Common pairings
a dull ache ache for something my head aches body aches
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Word forms

Plural
aches
Third person singular
aches
Past tense
ached, oke, aken
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

My legs _____ after the long hike.

Etymology

From Old English acan (the verb) and æce (the noun), going back to a very old Germanic root meaning "to hurt." The two spellings merged over time, partly because an 18th-century dictionary writer mistakenly linked the word to a similar-sounding Greek word for pain.

Origin: Old English · First attested 1700

Class of 1700 ache joined the language around 1700.
argh battleship bootleg Boswell broadcast
See the full Class of 1700 →

Synonyms

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throb hurt pain twinge longing yearning pine yearn yen smart languish suffer

Related words

help wish pain hurt damage waste smart weak

Rhymes for ache

cache Apache stache earache panache mustache headache backache moustache toothache bellyache heartache
See all rhymes for ache →

Frequently asked questions

What does “ache” mean?
The word “ache” means to feel a dull, ongoing pain rather than a sharp, sudden one. In plain terms, a lasting, dull pain — physical or emotional — as opposed to a sharp, sudden one.
How do you pronounce “ache”?
“Ache” is pronounced AYK (/ˈeɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “ache” in a sentence?
Here is “ache” used in a sentence: “My legs ached after the long hike.”
What part of speech is “ache”?
Depending on how it is used, “ache” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “ache” come from?
The word “ache” dates back to around 1700 and comes from Old English.
Is “ache” a common word?
“Ache” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “ache” have?
“Ache” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to feel a dull, ongoing pain rather than a sharp, sudden one.

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