Ill: meaning, definitions and examples

Formal or neutral contexts; common in written English.

• She has been ill for a week
• He was too ill to go to work

Used in formal or polite conversation; can imply mild to moderate discomfort.

• He has been feeling unwell for several days
• She looked unwell and decided to go home early

Common in American English; often used in informal settings.

• I feel sick after that meal
• She called in sick to work today

Common in British English; informal; often used when someone is feeling slightly unwell but not seriously sick.

• She's feeling a bit poorly today
• He looked poorly and decided to see a doctor

Similar to 'ill,' but it can also be used as an adverb to describe doing something in a poor or negative manner. It is less common and may sound somewhat formal or old-fashioned.

• He spoke ill of his colleagues, which caused tension in the team.
• She was ill-prepared for the meeting.

This word is used to describe something done in a poor or negative manner. It can relate to performance, skill, or conditions.

• He played the game badly, missing all the easy shots.
• The project was handled badly and resulted in many errors.

Used to describe doing something in an unsatisfactory way or to describe health that is not good. It is less severe than 'ill' when referring to health.

• He did poorly on the test and needs to study more.
• She has been feeling poorly these past few days.

This word is used when describing a negative or disadvantageous situation or opinion. It is often used in formal or professional contexts to indicate disapproval or negative outcomes.

• The proposal was received unfavorably by the committee.
• The new policy was unfavorably compared to the old one.