ailing

adjective

ail·​ing ˈā-liŋ How to pronounce ailing (audio)
Synonyms of ailingnext
: having or suffering from an illness or injury
providing care for his ailing mother
trying to rest her ailing knee/back
a person in ailing health
often used figuratively
an ailing company
an ailing economy

Examples of ailing in a Sentence

when his ailing wife had to go to a nursing home, he visited her every day he was ailing from some sort of infection in his eye that made it look all red and puffy
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.
An ailing brother wanted to give his sister a 1-acre plot of land in Arizona. Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 9 Dec. 2025 The actress — who stars in the new drama film Rosemead as an ailing woman who goes to drastic lengths to protect her troubled teenage son — welcomed Rockwell via a surrogate in August 2015. Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 7 Dec. 2025 Liu stars an ailing suburban woman who uncovers a terrifying secret — her teenage son (Lawrence Shou) is consumed by violent impulses. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 7 Dec. 2025 Minutes after the Patriots’ 33-15 win over the Giants, Maye took responsibility for losing four yards in the fourth quarter of a game where his offense played with backups at left tackle and left guard and an ailing center in Garrett Bradbury. Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 2 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ailing

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of ail entry 1

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ailing was in 1598

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ailing. Accessed 14 Dec. 2025.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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