chilly

[chil-ee]

adjective

chillier, chilliest 

1. mildly cold or producing a sensation of cold; causing shivering; chill.

   a chilly breeze.

2. feeling cold; sensitive to cold.

   Her hands were chilly.

3. without warmth of feeling; cool.

   a chilly reply.

4. producing or likely to produce a feeling of fear; frightening.

   He told a chilly story of ghosts and murder.

adverb

1. Also chillily in a mildly cold manner.

   The wind blew chilly.

chilly

/ ˈtʃɪlɪ /

adjective

1. causing or feeling cool or moderately cold

2. without warmth; unfriendly

3. (of people) sensitive to cold

Other Word Forms

• chilliness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of chilly¹

First recorded in 1560–70; chill + -y ¹

Synonym Study

See cold.

Example Sentences

After a chilly end to September and start to October across the UK, temperatures on Monday peaked in the low twenties in Celsius in central and south-east England and north-east Scotland, above the seasonal average.

Read more on BBC

It's dark and chilly, but I'm told the people at the front of this line have been here since 20:00 last night.

Read more on BBC

Garfield Park Conservatory – On a rainy or chilly Chicago day, there’s no better escape than Garfield Park Conservatory.

Read more on Salon

As the film explores the distinctions between behaving from instinct versus intellect — a battle between heart and mind — there is a chilly distance that Anderson never quite bridges.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The weather has just started to turn chilly, and thoughts have turned to those - particularly women - sleeping out on the streets.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• breezy 
• brisk 
• cool 
• crisp 
• freezing 
• frosty 
• icy 
• wintry