Ill
Definition
Example
"She is feeling ill today."
"He looked pale and ill after staying awake all night."
"The teacher was ill, so another teacher took the class for the day."
Explanation
Ill means not feeling well or sick. For example, she felt ill after eating too much junk food. It can also describe something bad, harmful, or unkind, not just health. People sometimes use “ill” to talk about negative emotions, bad luck, or harmful actions, like ill will or ill feelings (bad emotions) or ill effects (harmful results). For example, she spoke with ill feelings towards her friend, meaning she felt angry or upset. In everyday English, it’s mostly used to talk about health: when your body or mind isn’t well, but can also show bad or unpleasant situations.
👉 Americans usually say “sick” in daily conversation, while the British often use “ill”.