1
a
comparative also iller; superlative also illest
(1)
: not in good health
also
: nauseated
(2)
: not normal or sound
ill health
b
: causing suffering or distress
ill weather
2
: unfriendly, hostile
ill feeling
3
4
5
a
: not meeting an accepted standard
ill manners
b
archaic
: notably unskillful or inefficient
worse; worst
1
3
a
: so as to reflect unfavorably
spoke ill of the neighbors
b
: with displeasure or hostility
c
: in a harsh manner
4
: in a reprehensible manner
illustrated; illustration; illustrator
Illinois
Examples of ill in a Sentence
Adjective
That dog can eat almost anything with no ill effects.
They had been subjected to months of ill treatment.
Adverb
He is being ill served by his advisers.
Please don't think ill of me.
He was a good man who never spoke ill of anyone.
Noun
chicken pox and the other ills that were once a fixture of childhood
idealistic people who try to cure all of our society's ills
Recent Examples on the Web
Andre Fernandez, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
The show ill celebrate the nexus of film and fashion, with all of the proceeds going to the Entertainment Community Fund, with a focus on supporting costume community professionals impacted by this year’s devastating Los Angeles wildfires.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 23 Oct. 2025
Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Oct. 2025
Then, in May 1899, after returning from surveying a railroad property, Gillham fell ill.
—Michael Wells, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025
Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
For all their ills, the Chargers are in first place.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ill
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Adjective
But Messi showed no obvious ill-effects in Friday’s match.
—Andre Fernandez, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
The show ill celebrate the nexus of film and fashion, with all of the proceeds going to the Entertainment Community Fund, with a focus on supporting costume community professionals impacted by this year’s devastating Los Angeles wildfires.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 23 Oct. 2025
Adverb
Kelly moved to San Diego in 2016 after her grandfather, who has since passed, fell ill.
—Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Oct. 2025
Then, in May 1899, after returning from surveying a railroad property, Gillham fell ill.
—Michael Wells, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
And officials have long looked to play up the ills of other countries, especially the US, to boost their own image for domestic and, increasingly, international audiences.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
For all their ills, the Chargers are in first place.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ill
Cite this Entry
“Ill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ill. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ill
1 of 3 adjective1
: meant to do harm or evil
ill deeds
2
a
: causing suffering or distress
ill weather
b
: not normal or sound
ill health
c
: not being in good health
had been ill for some years
d
: affected by nausea
3
: not helpful to one : unlucky
an ill omen
4
: not right or proper
ill manners
5
: not kind or friendly
ill feeling
never said an ill word
ill
2 of 3 adverb
worse; worst
1
a
: with displeasure or anger
the remark was ill received
b
: in a harsh manner
treated me ill
2
: in a way that deserves blame
an ill-spent youth
ill-gotten gains
3
: hardly sense 3, scarcely
can ill afford it
ill
3 of 3 noun1
: the opposite of good : evil
2
a
: sickness sense 2
childhood ills
b
: trouble entry 2 sense 1a
the ills of society
Medical Definition
Geographical Definition
Ill
geographical name
river 129 miles (208 kilometers) long in northeastern France flowing into the Rhine River
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