Ill Definition & Meaning
ill
- adverb
- (`ill' is often used as a combining form) in a poor or improper or unsatisfactory manner; not well; "he was ill prepared"; "it ill befits a man to betray old friends"; "the car runs badly"; "he performed badly on the exam"; "the team played poorly"; "ill-fitting clothes"; "an ill- conceived plan"
- unfavorably or with disapproval; "tried not to speak ill of the dead"; "thought badly of him for his lack of concern"
- with difficulty or inconvenience; scarcely or hardly; "we can ill afford to buy a new car just now"
- adjective
- affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function; "ill from the monotony of his suffering"
- resulting in suffering or adversity; "ill effects"; "it's an ill wind that blows no good"
- distressing; "ill manners"; "of ill repute"
- indicating hostility or enmity; "you certainly did me an ill turn"; "ill feelings"; "ill will"
- presaging ill fortune; "ill omens"; "ill predictions"; "my words with inauspicious thunderings shook heaven"- P.B.Shelley; "a dead and ominous silence prevailed"; "a by- election at a time highly unpropitious for the Government"
- noun
- an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining
"Ill" in song lyrics
See how ill is used in real songs:
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"The police called to say that your job is ill"
2 Live Crew — Revelation -
"The Crew don't know how to ill"
2 Live Crew — We Like to Chill -
"I'm the Brother Marquis and it's time to get ill"
2 Live Crew — We Like to Chill
Words that rhyme with ill
Usage tips for "ill"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "ill" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for ill to find words that pair well.
Use "ill" in a verse
Now that you know what "ill" means, try using it in your own lyrics:
Generate a verseFrequently asked questions
- What does ill mean?
- (`ill' is often used as a combining form) in a poor or improper or unsatisfactory manner; not well; "he was ill prepared"; "it ill befits a man to betray old friends"; "the car runs badly"; "he performed badly on the exam"; "the team played poorly"; "ill-fitting clothes"; "an ill- conceived plan" unfavorably or with disapproval; "tried not to speak ill of the dead"; "thought badly of him for his lack of concern" with difficulty or inconvenience; scarcely or hardly
- What part of speech is ill?
- Ill is an adverb, an adjective, and a noun.
- How many definitions does ill have?
- Ill has 9 definitions across 3 parts of speech (adverb, adjective, noun).