A twinge is a sudden, brief feeling of pain or emotion. You might feel a twinge in your ankle when you step wrong, a sharp but fleeting sensation that makes you wince. A twinge in your back might make you pause while lifting something heavy, warning you to be careful.

The word captures that specific quality of being both sudden and short-lived. A twinge isn't a constant ache or a severe injury: it's a quick jab that arrives and fades in moments. Athletes often play through minor twinges, though smart ones know to rest if those twinges persist.

To twinge means to cause or feel a sudden, brief pain or emotion. You might feel a twinge of guilt when you forget to call your grandmother, or a twinge of jealousy when your friend wins an award you wanted. These emotional twinges are like little stabs of feeling: real but passing, noticeable but not overwhelming. They're the small pangs of conscience or emotion that remind you what matters to you, even if they don't last long enough to change your whole mood.