ail
verb (used with object)
to cause pain, uneasiness, or trouble to.
was ailing
-
past progressiveof ail.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
In 2019, Ed was ailing, and Val was incapacitated.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026
By the 1980s, Marcos was ailing, and it was becoming clear that his wife Imelda and her allies were not planning to keep Enrile in the future regime.
From Barron's ● Nov. 13, 2025
In “Dear Mom and Dad,” she remembers the fractures as well as the rapprochements, including the years when her father was ailing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 6, 2024
Saints: Carr appeared to finish the game in pain, but it was not immediately clear what was ailing him.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 19, 2023
And when the weather became warm, he moved into a health and rehabilitation center, not because he was ailing but because the facility had a swimming pool and a gym where he could work out.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
