unwell

[uhn-wel]

See more synonyms for unwell on Thesaurus.com

adjective

not well; ailing; ill.
Older Use. menstruating.

Origin of unwell

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at un-¹, well¹

Related formsun·well·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for unwell

Contemporary Examples

It is oily, dark and almost rotten tasting, but it did not make me unwell.
Tales of a Jailhouse Gourmet: How I learned to Cook in Prison
Daniel Genis
June 21, 2014
But remember: Unwell people are getting health coverage for the first time in their lives by the millions.
Obamacare Crosses the Finish Line
Michael Tomasky
March 31, 2014
"We're sorry Kira is unwell and we hope she gets the help she obviously needs," a source close to the supermodel told Vogue UK.
New York City Named Fashion Capital of the World; Naomi Campbell Denies Bullying Allegations
The Fashion Beast Team
February 4, 2014
This would have never happened in Italy no matter how unwell a mother is.
Italian Woman Says British Doctors Forced Her to Have a C-Section, Took Her Baby
Barbie Latza Nadeau and Nico Hines
December 5, 2013
Twenty-two years ago, Soviet communism was alive and unwell.
Bernanke's Out-of-Touch Speech
Zachary Karabell
August 26, 2011

Historical Examples

Mr. Fleurant, gently, if you please; if you go on like that, no one will wish to be unwell.
The Imaginary Invalid
Molire
Sophy was unwell, was feverish; the scarlet fever had been in the neighbourhood.
Alice, or The Mysteries, Complete
Edward Bulwer-Lytton
For the next few days Evelyn was unwell, and did not quit her room.
Alice, or The Mysteries, Complete
Edward Bulwer-Lytton
The Marchesino had really been unwell, as he had told Hermione.
A Spirit in Prison
Robert Hichens
In short it was so apparent that the other guests looked at them, and asked them if they were unwell.
L'Assommoir
Emile Zola

British Dictionary definitions for unwell

unwell

adjective

(postpositive) not well; ill

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

Word Origin and History for unwell

adj.

mid-15c., "somewhat ill," from un- (1) "not" + well (adj.). Cf. North Frisian unwel, German unwohl.

unwell

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}unwell

Examples from the Web for unwell

Contemporary Examples

It is oily, dark and almost rotten tasting, but it did not make me unwell.

But remember: Unwell people are getting health coverage for the first time in their lives by the millions.

"We're sorry Kira is unwell and we hope she gets the help she obviously needs," a source close to the supermodel told Vogue UK.

This would have never happened in Italy no matter how unwell a mother is.

Twenty-two years ago, Soviet communism was alive and unwell.

Historical Examples

Mr. Fleurant, gently, if you please; if you go on like that, no one will wish to be unwell.

Sophy was unwell, was feverish; the scarlet fever had been in the neighbourhood.

For the next few days Evelyn was unwell, and did not quit her room.

The Marchesino had really been unwell, as he had told Hermione.

In short it was so apparent that the other guests looked at them, and asked them if they were unwell.

unwell

Word Origin and History for unwell

adj.

Origin of unwell