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How to pronounce ill
Say it like this: /ˈɪl/. Listen to real recordings below and compare how it sounds in different accents.
What does ill mean?
adjEvil; wicked (of people).
“St. Paul chose to magnify his office when ill men conspired to lessen it.”
Morally reprehensible (of behaviour etc.); blameworthy.
“‘Go bring her. It is ill to keep a lady waiting.’”
Indicative of unkind or malevolent intentions; harsh, cruel.
“He suffered from ill treatment.”
advNot well; imperfectly, badly
“Such jealousy ill becomes her; she can ill afford another gaffe like that.”
nounTrouble; distress; misfortune; adversity.
“Music won't solve all the world's ills, but it can make them easier to bear.”
Harm or injury.
“I wouldn't want you to do me ill.”
Evil; moral wrongfulness.
“Strong virtue, like strong nature, struggles still, / Exerts itself, and then throws off the ill.”
verbTo behave aggressively.
“D.M.C.: You been illin' lately. Run: So, I'm illin'. Am I illin'? Chillin'! You know what I'm sayin'? Chillin'.”
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Pronunciations and meanings from Wiktionary via kaikki.org, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Recordings by Wikimedia Commons contributors. This page is shared under the same license.