definitions

ill

[ il ]
/ ɪl /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ill ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, worse, worst; ill·er, ill·est for 7.

noun

adverb

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RELATED WORDS

anxious, apprehensive, awkward, disturbed, doubtful, edgy, fidgety, hesitant, insecure, nervous, restless, self-conscious, shy, suspicious, tense, uncomfortable, uneasy, unsettled, unsure, disquieted

Nearby words

ilium, ilk, ilka, ilkeston, ilkley, ill, ill at ease, ill fame, ill feeling, ill humor, ill humour

Idioms

    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

Can be confused

ill sick1 (see synonym study at the current entry)

Synonym study

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. 4. See bad1.

Grammar note

See well1.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for ill at ease

ill

/ (ɪl) /

adjective worse or worst

noun

adverb

Word Origin for ill

C11 (in the sense: evil): from Old Norse illr bad
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

Medicine definitions for ill at ease

ill

[ ĭl ]

adj.

Not healthy; sick.
Not normal, as a condition; unsound.

n.

A disease or illness, especially of animals.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Idioms and Phrases with ill at ease (1 of 2)

ill at ease

Uncomfortable, uneasy, as in Large parties made him feel ill at ease. [c. 1300] For an antonym, see at ease.

Idioms and Phrases with ill at ease (2 of 2)

ill

In addition to the idioms beginning with ill

  • ill at ease
  • ill wind that blows no one any good, it's an

, also see under

  • get sick
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.