headache

plural headaches · alternative obsolete headach · alternative archaic head-ache

1. medicineA pain or ache in the head.

   I have a splitting headache after that party last night.

   4 more examples

   I advise you to take some painkillers for the headache, it's probably nothing serious.

   The beauty and brilliancy of this insect are indescribable, and none but a naturalist can understand the intense excitement I experienced when I at length captured it. On taking it out of my net and opening the glorious wings, my heart began to beat violently, the blood rushed to my head, and I felt much more like fainting than I have done when in apprehension of immediate death. I had a headache the rest of the day, so great was the excitement produced by what will appear to most people a very inadequate cause.

   1869, Alfred Russel Wallace, The Malay Archipelago, volume II, London: Macmillan and Co., page 51

   Sometimes on television they tell you a product is "good for headaches." I don't want something that's good for headaches. I want something that's bad for headaches. And good for me.

   1997, George Carlin, “Sports Roundup”, in Brain Droppings, New York City: Hyperion Books, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, →OL, page 68

   CNN spoke recently with several Conyers residents who said they still have blurry vision, shortness of breath, throat irritation or chronic headaches since the chemical plant fire.

   2024 November 24, Chris Boyette, “Investigators release update on BioLab chemical plant fire probe”, in CNN, archived from the original on 30 Aug 2025

   Synonyms: cephalalgia

2. figurativelyA nuisance or unpleasant problem.

   The clumsy filing system has been a huge headache.

   1 more example

   Bogland now dominates the scene and the construction engineers must have suffered many a headache in seeking to secure a firm foundation.

   1957 May 28, Walter McGrath, “The Thurles-Clonmel Line, C.I.E.”, in Railway Magazine, page 319

   Synonyms: bother, pain in the neck