ill meaning and definition

ILL noun

Definition of ill (noun)

1. an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining
   • synonyms: ailment, complaint

ILL adjective

Definition of ill (adjective)

1. affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
   • "ill from the monotony of his suffering"
   • synonyms: sick
   • antonym: well
2. resulting in suffering or adversity
   • "ill effects"; "it's an ill wind that blows no good"
3. distressing
   • "ill manners"; "of ill repute"
4. indicating hostility or enmity
   • "you certainly did me an ill turn"; "ill feelings"; "ill will"
5. 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"
   • synonyms: inauspicious, ominous

ILL adverb

Definition of ill (adverb)

1. (`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"
   • synonyms: badly, poorly
   • antonym: good
2. unfavorably or with disapproval
   • "tried not to speak ill of the dead"; "thought badly of him for his lack of concern"
   • synonyms: badly
   • antonym: well
3. with difficulty or inconvenience; scarcely or hardly
   • "we can ill afford to buy a new car just now"