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ill
[ il ]
/ ɪl /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
adjective, worse, worst;ill·er, ill·est for 7.
noun
adverb
QUIZ
WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?
Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!
Question 1 of 7
Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.
Idioms about ill
ill at ease, socially uncomfortable; nervous: They were ill at ease because they didn't speak the language.
Origin of ill
1150–1200; Middle English ill(e) (noun and adj.) <Old Norse illr (adj.) ill, bad
synonym study for ill
1. Ill, sick mean being in bad health, not being well. Ill is the more formal word. In the U.S. the two words are used practically interchangeably except that sick is always used when the word modifies the following noun: He looks sick ( ill ); a sick person. In England, sick is not interchangeable with ill, but usually has the connotation of nauseous: She got sick and threw up. sick, however, is used before nouns just as in the U.S.: a sick man.
grammar notes for ill
See well1.
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ill
ill , sick (see synonym study at the current entry)Words nearby ill
ilium, ilk, ilka, Ilkeston, Ilkley, ill, ill-advised, ill-affected, Illampu, ill-assorted, ill at ease
Other definitions for ill (2 of 4)
I'll
[ ahyl ]
/ aɪl /
contraction of I will.
usage note for I'll
See contraction.
Other definitions for ill (3 of 4)
ill.
abbreviation
illustrated.
illustration.
illustrator.
most illustrious.
Origin of ill.
(def. 4) <Latin illustrissimus
Other definitions for ill (4 of 4)
Ill.
abbreviation
Illinois.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
WHEN TO USE
What are other ways to say ill?
The adjective ill is defined as “evil; wicked; bad.” However, it’s not used in exactly the same way as any of those synonyms! Learn the difference among these terms on Thesaurus.com.
How to use ill in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for ill (1 of 3)
ill
/ (ɪl) /
adjective worse or worst
noun
adverb
Word Origin for ill
C11 (in the sense: evil): from Old Norse illr bad
British Dictionary definitions for ill (2 of 3)
I'll
/ (aɪl) /
contraction of
I will or I shall
British Dictionary definitions for ill (3 of 3)
Ill.
abbreviation for
Illinois
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with ill
ill
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.