Definition

1. Adjective:
   • In poor health; ill or sick: The word "unwell" describes a state of being not in good health, often indicating a temporary or mild illness.
   • Feeling physically indisposed: It can refer to a general feeling of discomfort or sickness without specifying a severe condition.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • She stayed home from work because she was feeling unwell.
  • The patient has been unwell for several days with a fever.
  • If you are unwell, you should see a doctor.

Advanced Usage

• "To be taken unwell": To suddenly become ill.
  • He was taken unwell during the meeting and had to leave.
• "To feel unwell": A common phrase describing the sensation of being ill.
  • I felt unwell after eating the seafood.

Variants and Related Words

• Ailing (adj): Often used interchangeably with "unwell," sometimes implying a more prolonged or serious condition.
  • The ailing old man needed constant care.
• Indisposed (adj): A slightly more formal synonym for "unwell."
  • The manager is indisposed and cannot attend the meeting.
• Poorly (adj/adv, chiefly British): A common informal synonym for "unwell."
  • She's been feeling poorly all week.
• Peaked (adj): Appearing pale and ill.
  • You look a bit peaked; are you getting enough sleep?
• Sickly (adj): Often in poor health; prone to illness.
  • He was a sickly child.

Synonyms

• Ill
• Sick
• Under the weather (idiomatic)
• Out of sorts (idiomatic)

Related Phrases

• Off colour (idiom, chiefly British): Not looking or feeling well.
  • He's been a bit off colour since yesterday.

Notes on Usage

• "Unwell" is generally considered a slightly more formal or polite term than "sick" or "ill," though all are commonly used.
• It typically describes a non-specific, often temporary, state of illness (e.g., nausea, dizziness, a cold) rather than a diagnosed serious disease.
• In some contexts, particularly in British English, it can be a euphemism for menstruation.

Adjective

1. somewhat ill or prone to illness
   • my poor ailing grandmother
   • feeling a bit indisposed today
   • you look a little peaked
   • feeling poorly
   • a sickly child
   • is unwell and can't come to work