Meaning & use
achy
Last updated
UK/ˈeɪki/
US/ˈeɪki/
Meaning
adjectivenot comparable
Suffering from a dull, persistent pain in part or all of the body.
Grammar: Mostly predicative: feel achy; attributive use is common too: achy joints.
Patterns
- feel achy
- achy muscles
- achy all over
My legs felt achy after the long hike.
She went to bed early with an achy back.
Common combinations
- feel achy
- I feel achy and tired today.
- achy muscles
- A warm bath helped his achy muscles.
- achy all over
- After the flu, she was achy all over.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sore
- Sore is the everyday word, often after exercise or injury; achy suggests a dull, spreading discomfort.
- painful
- Painful is stronger and can describe objects or events; achy is milder and about the body.
Opposites
pain-free
Word family
Commonly confused: achy or ache? achy or achey?
achy vs ache
Ache is the noun or verb; achy is the adjective describing how the body feels.
achy vs achey
Achey is a common misspelling; the standard spelling is achy, without the extra e.
Practice
After the flu, my whole body felt ___.
Choose one answer.
The linking verb felt needs the adjective achy; ache is a noun or verb, aches is a verb form, and achingly is an adverb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “achy”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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