English-English Dictionary

Meaning of the word ill in English

What does ill mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

ill

US /ɪl/
UK /ɪl/
"ill" picture

Adjective

1.

suffering from an illness or disease; unwell.

Example:
•
She felt ill after eating the spoiled food.
•
He's been ill with the flu for a week.
Synonym:
sickunwell
Synonym:
healthywell
2.

harmful or undesirable.

Example:
•
Smoking has many ill effects on health.
•
He spoke no ill of his former colleagues.
Synonym:
badharmful
Synonym:
goodbeneficial

Adverb

1.

badly or wrongly.

Example:
•
Things went ill for them after the accident.
•
He spoke ill of his neighbors.
Synonym:
badlypoorly
Synonym:
wellrightly
2.

with difficulty or hardship.

Example:
•
He could ill afford to lose his job.
•
The company can ill afford another mistake.
Synonym:
hardlyscarcely
Synonym:
easilyreadily

Noun

1.

trouble or misfortune.

Example:
•
He wished no ill upon his enemies.
•
They suffered much ill during the war.
Synonym:
harmmisfortune
Synonym:
goodfortune
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Related Word:
illnessill-definedmental illnessill-fated