aching

adjective

ach·​ing ˈā-kiŋ How to pronounce aching (audio)
1
: that aches
an aching back
2
: causing or reflecting distress, deep emotion, or longing
aching country ballads

Examples of aching in a Sentence

another one of those aching country songs about a woman who done him wrong
Recent Examples on the Web Adding an aching left arm to the mix made the already laborious task even more of a hassle in the biggest moment of the season’s most important game. Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2024 While the jacket describes this as a thriller, my sense of it was of a calm, compassionate clarity, smooth and aching, animating its three core points of view. Amal El-Mohtar, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024 An unmarked storefront is home to a recording studio built by a son of Hal David, who, with Burt Bacharach, wrote aching, romantic pop ballads for Dionne Warwick. Danielle Amir Jackson Malike Sidibe, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2023 Athletes often use infrared post-workout to help with recovery from sore and aching muscles and stiffness. Kylie Gilbert, Glamour, 18 Jan. 2024 For a dry aching cough, Makkawi said to consider also using a humidifier to add moisture to the air. Andrea Michelson, Verywell Health, 13 Oct. 2023 Guts is a collection of pop-punk ragers and aching, pensive burners that suggest that after all that multiplatinum heartbreak, Rodrigo is finally having a blast — a wild and free 20-year-old who holds nothing back. Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2023 Scientific research shows that magnesium supplementation can induce relaxation and calmness, soothe sore or aching muscles, and help to treat or prevent some of the most common causes of sleep disorders, such as dehydration and cramping, to create ideal sleeping conditions (7). Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 14 Aug. 2023 How many more parents, children, spouses, friends will join this grieving army in their aching, unspeakable form of love? Longreads, 12 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'aching.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English aking, from present participle of aken "to ache entry 1"

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of aching was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near aching

Cite this Entry

“Aching.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aching. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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