chill

play

noun \ ˈchil \

Definition of chill

1 a :a sensation of cold accompanied by shivering

b :a disagreeable sensation of coldness

2 :a moderate but disagreeable degree of cold

3 :a check to enthusiasm or warmth of feeling

See chill defined for English-language learners

See chill defined for kids

Examples of chill in a Sentence

There was a chill in the autumn air.
He closed the windows to keep out the chill.
Her symptoms include chills and a fever.
He caught a chill that turned into a bad cold.
The novel's final scene gave him the chills.
Her words sent chills down my spine.

Recent Examples of chill from the Web

Serve immediately at room temperature, or chill in the fridge for 1 to 2 hours before serving.

— chris ross, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Watermelon makes one cool gazpacho," 18 July 2017
Afghanistan isn't included in Trump's temporary travel ban, but critics have said the ban is emblematic of a broader effort to put a chill on Muslims entering the U.S.

— josh lederman, chicagotribune.com, "Afghan girls robotics team, twice rejected for visas, arrives in U.S. just in time for competition," 15 July 2017
Just beyond the 1908 Mission Revival house lies a full acre of lush green lawn adorned with pillared steps and a traditional Japanese shrine that offers a more chill socialization scene.

— marielle wakim, Los Angeles Magazine, "Best of LA: 92 of Our Favorite Things to Eat, Do, and Buy Right Now," 14 July 2017
Others noted that the new legal landscape could put a chill on future corruption investigations.

— alan feuer, New York Times, "Silver May Start ‘Parade of Horribles’ Out of McDonnell Case, Critics Say," 13 July 2017
Fans deserve to experience the chills as he is introduced as a pinch-hitter late in the game in his home park, enters the box with that iconic frozen upright-bat pose of his and then, if the baseball gods are smiling, slices a single to right field.

— greg cote, miamiherald, "Baseball should include Ichiro in Miami’s All-Star celebration," 5 July 2017
What our home fields and regular season play did get us prepared for were the things that are universal to any team: mosquitos, the heat, the sun, the rain, and the chill.

— by susan vollenweider, kansascity, "And now a word from the stands: Bring it on, young players," 28 June 2017
Add a lime, order some nachos and chill in the sand.

— AL.com, "15 frozen drinks that will cool you off this summer at the beach," 23 June 2017
Verbs The Mist chills, stars align, prince ascends, camo flops.

— rosa inocencio smith, The Atlantic, "The Atlantic Daily: Disturbing Footage," 21 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chill.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of chill

Middle English chile chill, frost, from Old English ciele; akin to Old English ceald cold

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

chill Synonyms

Synonyms

bite, bitterness, bleakness, chilliness, nip, nippiness, rawness, sharpness

Related Words

briskness, crispness; coldness, frigidity, frigidness, frostiness, gelidity, iciness, wintriness; cold, freeze, snap

Near Antonyms

balminess, warmness, warmth; heat, hotness, sultriness

chill

adjective

Definition of chill

1 a :moderately cold

b :cold, raw

2 :affected by cold

chill travelers

3 :distant, formal

a chill reception

4 :depressing, dispiriting

chill penury
—Thomas Gray

—

chillness

noun

See chill defined for English-language learners

Examples of chill in a Sentence

The chill weather kept us indoors.
were met with a chill gaze when they arrived home late from the party

Recent Examples of chill from the Web

Panna cotta Prep time: 20 minutes Chill time: 4 hours to overnight Serves 6 Karen Austin of Grass Valley was looking for an easy, elegant dessert to serve company.

— teri mena, sacbee, "Recipe Mailbox: Panna cotta," 15 Aug. 2017
Making these space-age, leave-nothing-to the-imagination clothes look chill and effortless takes skill—and at least a few muscles.

— megan gustashaw, GQ, "Justin Timberlake’s Chill Gym Style is a Lesson in Layering," 10 Aug. 2017
Daughter of actors Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith, granddaughter of the chillest, most unattainable Hitchcock blonde of them all, Tippi Hedren, Dakota Johnson has pasted her own star into this Hollywood constellation.

— james wolcott, HWD, "The 2017 Vanity Fair Hollywood Portfolio: Wonder Women," 26 Jan. 2017
The ripest fruit, the hottest grills, the chillest drinks.

— Bon Appetit, "Cook Like a Pro 2017," 2 Jan. 2014

First Known Use of chill

14th century

chill Synonyms

chill

verb

Definition of chill

intransitive verb

1 a :to become cold

b :to shiver or quake with or as if with cold

2 :to become taken with a chill

3 a :chill out

b :hang 12

transitive verb

1 a :to make cold or chilly

chilled by a cold wind

b :to make cool especially without freezing

chill the wine

2 :to affect as if with cold :dispirit

—

chillingly

play \ˈchi-liŋ-lē\ adverb

See chill defined for English-language learners

Examples of chill in a Sentence

Chill the dessert for one hour before serving it.
Let the dessert chill for one hour before serving it.
Here's a ghost story that will chill you.
Her screams chilled me to the bone .
a horrible sight that chilled my bones
He thinks his parents are way too uptight and says they should just chill.
I decided to stay home and chill.

Recent Examples of chill from the Web

Serve chilled and with a cinnamon stick, for garnish.

— kara studzinski, Esquire, "How to Turn College Spirits Into Grown-Up Cocktails," 22 Aug. 2017
A practice such as air-chilling the chickens after slaughter—a step favored by chefs over a water bath—is used on Perdue poultry sold at Whole Foods and elsewhere.

— deena shanker, Bloomberg.com, "That Chicken From Whole Foods Isn’t So Special Anymore," 14 Aug. 2017
While Vanessa wore the ensemble on the way to and from the gym, this outfit is equally primed for lounging in your dorm with friends, getting extra cozy ahead of that all-night study session, or chilling with a High School Musical movie marathon.

— ella ceron, Teen Vogue, "Vanessa Hudgens Wears $47 PrettyLittleThing Sweatsuit," 9 Aug. 2017
SAN FRANCISCO — The cautionary words of American regulators have done little to chill a red-hot market for new virtual currencies sold by start-ups.

— nathaniel popper, New York Times, "Despite S.E.C. Warning, Wave of Initial Coin Offerings Grows," 7 Aug. 2017
Later that night, some of her children found the chilling video of the shooting’s aftermath on YouTube.

— david hernandez, sandiegouniontribune.com, "More than a month later, few answers in National City deadly shooting," 6 Aug. 2017
The reasons for that grim retreat include the fragmentation of some school districts, the release of others from judicial oversight and court decisions that chilled integration drives.

— The Economist, "Separate and unequalAn ingenious bid to force improvements in Mississippi schools," 13 July 2017
Large fines for those found guilty of defamation are yet another way to chill free speech.

— The Economist, "Don’t say a wordHow powerful people use criminal-defamation laws to silence their critics," 13 July 2017
The Limit: Life and Death on the 1961 Grand Prix Circuit Michael Cannell; Twelve/Grand Central Publishing A chilling account of the Phil Hill/Wolfgang von Trips duel for the 1961 Formula 1 Championship.

— peter manso, Car and Driver, "Sixteen Books Every Auto Enthusiast Should Read," 3 July 2017

First Known Use of chill

14th century

chill Synonyms

Synonyms

cool, refrigerate

Antonyms

heat, toast, warm

Related Words

air-condition; freeze, frost, ice, quick-freeze, supercool; ventilate

Near Antonyms

bake, boil, broil, steam; heat-treat, temper; microwave

CHILL Defined for English Language Learners

chill

play

noun

Definition of chill for English Language Learners

: a cold feeling : a degree of cold that can be felt and that is usually unpleasant
: a feeling of being cold
: an illness that makes you feel cold

chill

adjective

Definition of chill for English Language Learners

: unpleasantly cold

chill

verb

Definition of chill for English Language Learners

: to make (someone or something) cold or cool
: to become cold or cool
: to cause (someone) to feel afraid

CHILL Defined for Kids

chill

play

noun \ ˈchil \

Definition of chill for Students

1 :coldness that is unpleasant but not extreme

There was a chill in the autumn air.

2 :a feeling of coldness accompanied by shivering

She has a fever and chills.

3 :a feeling of coldness caused by fear

The grisly sight gave me the chills.

chill

adjective

Definition of chill for Students

1 :unpleasantly cold :raw

Everything was damp and chill and miserable in the wagon …
—Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House on the Prairie

2 :not friendly

a chill greeting

chill

verb

Definition of chill for Students

chilled; chilling

1 :to make or become cold or chilly

The wind chilled us to the bone.

2 :to make cool especially without freezing

Chill the pudding for dessert.

3 :to cause to feel cold from fear

This ghost story will chill you.

Medical Dictionary

chill

play

noun \ ˈchil \

medical Definition of chill

1 :a sensation of cold accompanied by shivering

2 :a disagreeable sensation of coldness

chill

intransitive verb

medical Definition of chill

1 a :to become cold

b :to shiver or quake with or as if with cold

2 :to become affected with a chill

transitive verb

:to make cold or chilly

Law Dictionary

chill

transitive verb

legal Definition of chill

:to discourage especially through fear of penalty :have a chilling effect on

statutes which may chill the exercise of…free expression
—M. H. Redish

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See words that rhyme with chill Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for chill Spanish Central: Translation of chill Nglish: Translation of chill for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of chill for Arabic speakers

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chill

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chill

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chill

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chill

Definition of chill for English Language Learners

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medical Definition of chill

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legal Definition of chill

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