Someone who is ill is suffering from a disease or a health problem.
In November 1941 Payne was seriously ill with pneumonia. [+ with]
I was feeling ill.
If damp, musty buildings make you ill, mould is probably the cause.
Two years ago my husband was declared to be terminally ill.
Synonyms: unwell, sick, poorly [informal], diseased More Synonyms of ill
People who are ill in some way can be referred to as, for example, the mentally ill.
I used to work with the mentally ill.
She became a nun and cared for the terminally ill for the rest of her life.
2. countable noun [usually plural]
Difficulties and problems are sometimes referred to as ills.
[formal]
His critics maintain that he's responsible for many of Algeria's ills.
...various potions that would cure all ills.
Synonyms: problem, trouble, suffering, worry More Synonyms of ill
3. uncountable noun
Ill is evil or harm.
[literary]
They say they mean you no ill.
4. adverb [ADVERB with verb]
Ill means the same as 'badly'.
[formal]
The company's conservative instincts sit ill with competition.
5. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
You can use ill in front of some nouns to indicate that you are referring to something harmful or unpleasant.
[formal]
She had brought ill luck into her family.
He says that he bears no ill feelings towards Johnson.
Synonyms: hostile, malicious, acrimonious, cross More Synonyms of ill
6.
See can ill afford
7.
See sth bodes ill/augurs ill
8.
See fall ill/be taken ill
9.
See for good or ill
10. to speak ill of someone
usage note: The words ill and sick are very similar in meaning, but are used in slightly different ways. Ill is generally not used before a noun, and can be used in verbal expressions such asfall ill and be taken ill. He fell ill shortly before Christmas... One of the jury members was taken ill.Sick is often used before a noun. ...sick children. In British English, ill is a slightly more polite, less direct word than sick. Sick often suggests the actual physical feeling of being ill, for example nausea or vomiting.I spent the next 24 hours in bed, groaning and being sick. In American English, sick is often used where British people would say ill. Some people get hurt in accidents or get sick.
More Synonyms of ill
ill-
(ɪl-)
combining form
Ill- is added to words, especially adjectives and past participles, to add the meaning 'badly' or 'inadequately'. For example, 'ill-written' means badly written.
...ill-disciplined children.
I'll
(aɪl)
I'll is the usual spoken form of 'I will' or 'I shall'.
I'll be leaving town in a few weeks.
I'll explain tomorrow morning.
ill in British English
(ɪl)
adjectiveWord forms: worse or worst
1. (usually postpositive)
not in good health; sick
2.
characterized by or intending evil, harm, etc; hostile
ill deeds
3.
causing or resulting in pain, harm, adversity, etc
ill effects
4.
ascribing or imputing evil to something referred to
ill repute
5.
promising an unfavourable outcome; unpropitious
an ill omen
6.
harsh; lacking kindness
ill will
7.
not up to an acceptable standard; faulty
ill manners
8. ill at ease
noun
9.
evil or harm
to wish a person ill
10.
a mild disease
11.
misfortune; trouble
adverb
12.
badly
the title ill befits him
13.
with difficulty; hardly
he can ill afford the money
14.
not rightly
she ill deserves such good fortune
Word origin
C11 (in the sense: evil): from Old Norse illr bad
Ill. in British English
abbreviation for
Illinois
Illinois in British English
(ˌɪlɪˈnɔɪ)
noun
1.
a state of the N central US, in the Midwest: consists of level prairie crossed by the Illinois and Kaskaskia Rivers; mainly agricultural. Capital: Springfield. Pop: 12 653 544 (2003 est). Area: 144 858 sq km (55 930 sq miles)
Abbreviation: Ill. or (with zip code) IL
2.
a river in Illinois, flowing SW to the Mississippi. Length: 439 km (273 miles)
I'll in British English
(aɪl)
contraction of
I will or I shall
I'll in American English
(aɪl)
1.
I will
2.
I shall
Ill in American English
Illinois
ill in American English1
(ɪl)
adjectiveWord forms: worse or worst
1.
characterized by, causing, or tending to cause harm or evil
to speak/think ill of sb讲(講)某人坏(壞)话(話)/认(認)为(為)某人坏(壞) (jiǎng mǒurén huàihuà/rènwéi mǒurén huài)
to fall or be taken ill生病 (shēngbìng)
单词 ill 和 sick 在语意上很相近，但使用方法略有不同。ill 通常不用在名词前，但可用在动词词组中，比如 fall ill 和 be taken ill。 He fell ill shortly before Christmas ... One of the jury members was taken ill.sick 经常用在名词前。 ... sick children ... 在英式英语中，ill 比 sick 更为文雅和委婉。sick 常常指实际的身体病痛，例如晕船或呕吐。 I spent the next 24 hours in bed, groaning and being sick. 美式英语中，sick 经常用在英国人说 ill 的地方。 Some people get hurt in accidents or get sick.
Derived Forms
the illn pl : the mentally/terminally ill精神/晚期病人 (jīngshén/wǎnqī bìngrén)