ail

American  

[eyl] / eɪl /

verb (used with object)

1. to cause pain, uneasiness, or trouble to.

   Inside our own bodies lies the most powerful cure for what ails us—our immune systems.

   He thinks lowering taxes is the answer to all that ails our economy.

   Synonyms:

   distress, annoy, bother

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verb (used without object)

1. to be unwell; feel pain; be ill.

   He's been ailing for some time.

ail British  

/ eɪl /

verb

1. (tr) to trouble; afflict

2. (intr) to feel unwell

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Etymology

Origin of ail

before 950; Middle English ail, eilen, Old English eglan to afflict (cognate with Middle Low German egelen annoy, Gothic -agljan ), derivative of egle painful; akin to Gothic agls shameful, Sanskrit aghám evil, pain

Example Sentences

He is suited to reviving an ailing team, just as he did with England almost four years ago.

From BBC

The market wants the central bank to cut rates or indicate that it will likely keep reducing them to help stabilize an ailing job market and slowing economic growth.

From Barron's

For all those ailing, lost and hopeless, do not be discouraged.

From Salon

Even if the U.S. were able to oust Maduro, the resulting turmoil would hardly create the right conditions to improve the country’s ailing oil industry, Oxford Analytica noted.

From Barron's

When Luka Doncic sustained a left leg contusion and sat out the entire second half Saturday against the Clippers, he became the latest in a growing list of ailing Lakers players.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• afflict
• bother