unwell

adjective

un·​well ˌən-ˈwel How to pronounce unwell (audio)
1
: being in poor health : ailing, sick
2
: undergoing menstruation

Examples of unwell in a Sentence

Miss Bennett, are you unwell? I am sorry she is feeling unwell.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Other members of the family had felt unwell the night before his death. Djenane Villanueva, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2025 That’s when Earle, who apparently felt unwell after recently traveling, called her in a panic, having mixed up the day. Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2025 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 224 of the 2,538 passengers on the ship have fallen ill, while 17 of the 1,232 crew members are also unwell. Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 1 Apr. 2025 The 22-year-old had been unwell and was barely able to speak for several days. Meriam Bouarrouj, NBC News, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unwell

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unwell was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unwell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unwell. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

unwell

adjective
un·​well ˌən-ˈwel How to pronounce unwell (audio)
ˈən-
: being in poor health : ailing, sick

Medical Definition

unwell

adjective
un·​well -ˈwel How to pronounce unwell (audio)
: being in poor health : sick

More from Merriam-Webster on unwell

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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