ail
verb (used with object)
to cause pain, uneasiness, or trouble to.
ailed
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past participleof ail.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof ail.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
ailverb (used with object)to cause pain, uneasiness, or trouble to.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And it wasn’t an elixir for all the issues — visas, tickets, transportation — that ailed the tournament in its buildup.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 13, 2026
Maybe they thought that what ailed the Florida citrus could be cured with a little private-equity magic.
From Slate ● Apr. 20, 2026
For Belichick, they say, it's part love of the game, part love for coaching, and part an affliction that has ailed many great sports figures: an inability to know when to say goodbye.
From BBC ● Jan. 28, 2026
The cybersecurity company’s earnings and revenue forecast met analysts’ expectations but f ailed to impress investors.
From Barron's ● Nov. 20, 2025
“Fix anything. Could sense what ailed a car. Good with his hands. And he could sing. Sang the old-timey songs while he worked. Lord, he could sing. You take after him that way, son?”
From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner
