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 Whether the media of our time are meeting that need is an open and aching question. Ron Elving, NPR, 15 June 2024 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 See all Example Sentences for aching 

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 2 Jul. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on aching

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!