unwell
/ʌnˈwɛl/adjective★Intermediate
formalinformal
Not in good health; feeling ill or sick
She felt unwell after eating the spoiled food.
He looked unwell and decided to stay home from work.
💡
Often used to describe a mild to moderate state of illness, not necessarily severe.
Collocations
feel unwellto experience mild illnesslook unwellto appear sickly or unhealthybecome unwellto fall ill
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
under the weatherphrase
feeling slightly unwell
💡Pro Tip
Formal vs. Informal Use
In British English, 'unwell' is often preferred over 'sick' for mild illnesses in formal contexts.
⚡Gold Rule
Avoid Overuse
'Unwell' is more formal than 'sick' or 'ill'. Use it when describing mild conditions or in professional settings.
📖Word Origin
From Middle English 'unwele', from Old English 'unhæle', meaning 'unhealthy' or 'sick'.
📝Usage Notes
Can be used both formally and informally. Often preferred over 'sick' in British English for mild illnesses.
Word Breakdown
un-
not
prefixwell
healthy
rootEnglish Dictionary