1
a
: a sensation of cold accompanied by shivering (as due to illness)
He had caught a chill that night, and was now down with a fever.—
Wilkie Collins
—usually pluralWilkie Collins If you have a cough, fever and chills and are not breathing as easily as usual, you might have a cold or the flu.—Linda SearingOver the next few days, my body followed up with a series of messages: you have a sore throat; you have a fever; you have the chills.—John Herrman
Linda SearingOver the next few days, my body followed up with a series of messages: you have a sore throat; you have a fever; you have the chills.—John Herrman
b
: an intense shivery sensation : shiver, shudder
especially
: one caused by a strong emotion (such as fear)
Do you like a good scare? The sort of story, or moment, that sends a chill down your spine and makes the hair on your arms stand up like porcupine quills? —Katherine Scott Crawford
—often plural Katherine Scott Crawford a song so beautiful it gives me chills … this is where [Stephen] King shines, creating those aforementioned creepy scenes that gave me the chills. —Katherine Whitt
Katherine Whitt
c
: a disagreeable sensation of coldness
When you venture outside on a cold day, chances are you feel the biggest chill in your fingers.—Tamekia Reece
Tamekia Reece2
: a moderate but disagreeable degree of cold
a chill in the air
3
: a check to enthusiasm or warmth of feeling
And a chill fell over the service as mourners … carried a casket draped in white to the altar.—Katherine Creag and Jennifer Millman
Katherine Creag and Jennifer Millman
sometimes chiller; sometimes chillest
2
: affected by cold
chill travelers
4
: depressing, dispiriting
chill penury—Thomas Gray
Thomas Gray5
informal
: having a laid-back style or easy demeanor
She looked just like Joey Potter … Really young and super chill. No one was paying any attention. It was a laid-back situation.—Emma Pearse
Emma PearseWe're very casual. I love how at City Hall people come in everything from wedding gowns to jeans. It's so mellow and chill, just how we like it.—Erin Burnett
Erin Burnett
chillness
noun
chilled; chilling; chills
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
b
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Noun
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.
Adjective
The chill weather kept us indoors.
were met with a chill gaze when they arrived home late from the party
Verb
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.
See More
Recent Examples on the WebNadine El-bawab, ABC News, 15 May 2023
The infection causes distinct rashes that can initially look like pimples or blisters, and other symptoms can include fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, aches and fatigue.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 15 May 2023
Once cooled, chill, covered, at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours.
—Christopher Michel, Country Living, 8 May 2023
The stabbings sent a chill through Davis, as fearful residents hunkered down.
—Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2023
In some of the snaps captured from their date night, Zendaya snacked on popcorn and looked chill while keeping her eyes on the court while Holland seemed laser-focused on the game as well.
—Marisa Sullivan, Peoplemag, 5 May 2023
The big chill: Today is our 12th day in a row with below average temperatures.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 4 May 2023
Clad in a backwards baseball cap and tie-dye hoodie that complement his chill demeanor, Illenium fills the frame of my computer screen.
—Rachel Narozniak, Billboard, 3 May 2023
Severe storms and possible wildfires are in the mix in the Plains and snow is expected in the Northwest on Tuesday as a majority of the country continues to feel some springtime chill.
—Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2023
Zachary Zane, Rolling Stone, 9 May 2023
The distillery, formerly known as Milk & Honey, won the accolade for its Sherry Cask expression—non-chill filtered and bottled at 46% ABV.
—Brad Japhe, Forbes, 2 Apr. 2023
Cindy’s is very chill, comfy and bright.
—Kailyn Brownstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2023
No platform is perfectly chill.
—Eric Griffith, PCMAG, 22 Aug. 2022
These songs are chill, but not depressing.
—Hannah Dylan Pasternak, SELF, 12 Aug. 2022
Even that barrage, though, was remarkably chill.
—Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2021
Our kids are pretty chill away from school.
—Ben Thomas | Bthomas@al.com, al, 18 Aug. 2021
These friends are too chill.
—Lia Beck, refinery29.com, 3 Aug. 2021
Elvia Limón, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2023
Hopps was profiled in The Washington Post as one of the health-care workers who were the heroes of the pandemic as the coronavirus chilled the nation.
—Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 4 May 2023
Some of the couple’s chilling findings from this study and others made it into the arguments during the landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka.
—Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 1 May 2023
The previous reading by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed signs the labor market is cooling off amid the Fed’s yearlong rate-hiking campaign to chill inflation.
—Andrew Torgan, CNN, 30 Apr. 2023
Laurie Jennings, the General Manager at the GH Institute, tested out this fridge in her home and appreciated its quiet operation, sturdy structure, ability to chill quickly and option to add leveling legs.
—Cassidy Olsen, Good Housekeeping, 31 Mar. 2023
Stir the cocktail using a swizzle spoon until it is chilled, about 20-30 seconds.
—Lana Bortolot, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2023
For a cooling effect to combat puffiness, a sunburn, or a migraine, a face roller that can be chilled would be your best bet.
—Lauren Manaker, Health, 27 Mar. 2023
Speaking of chilling, now that both Fraser and fellow comeback kid Ke Huy Quan are award-winning thespians, and their Encino Man costar Pauly Shore was rooting for his heeeeey-buddies, what are the chances of a sequel?
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 16 Mar. 2023
See More
Noun
The fever and chills were an indication of an infection and left untreated, sepsis is fatal, Gariepy told ABC News.
—Nadine El-bawab, ABC News, 15 May 2023
The infection causes distinct rashes that can initially look like pimples or blisters, and other symptoms can include fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, aches and fatigue.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 15 May 2023
Once cooled, chill, covered, at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours.
—Christopher Michel, Country Living, 8 May 2023
The stabbings sent a chill through Davis, as fearful residents hunkered down.
—Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2023
In some of the snaps captured from their date night, Zendaya snacked on popcorn and looked chill while keeping her eyes on the court while Holland seemed laser-focused on the game as well.
—Marisa Sullivan, Peoplemag, 5 May 2023
The big chill: Today is our 12th day in a row with below average temperatures.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 4 May 2023
Clad in a backwards baseball cap and tie-dye hoodie that complement his chill demeanor, Illenium fills the frame of my computer screen.
—Rachel Narozniak, Billboard, 3 May 2023
Severe storms and possible wildfires are in the mix in the Plains and snow is expected in the Northwest on Tuesday as a majority of the country continues to feel some springtime chill.
—Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2023
Adjective
Cocaine was one of my no-no drugs, whereas marijuana, shrooms, acid, and drinking two Four Lokos were totally chill.
—Zachary Zane, Rolling Stone, 9 May 2023
The distillery, formerly known as Milk & Honey, won the accolade for its Sherry Cask expression—non-chill filtered and bottled at 46% ABV.
—Brad Japhe, Forbes, 2 Apr. 2023
Cindy’s is very chill, comfy and bright.
—Kailyn Brownstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2023
No platform is perfectly chill.
—Eric Griffith, PCMAG, 22 Aug. 2022
These songs are chill, but not depressing.
—Hannah Dylan Pasternak, SELF, 12 Aug. 2022
Even that barrage, though, was remarkably chill.
—Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2021
Our kids are pretty chill away from school.
—Ben Thomas | Bthomas@al.com, al, 18 Aug. 2021
These friends are too chill.
—Lia Beck, refinery29.com, 3 Aug. 2021
Verb
Last year, rising mortgage interest rates chilled the previously hot Southern California housing market.
—Elvia Limón, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2023
Hopps was profiled in The Washington Post as one of the health-care workers who were the heroes of the pandemic as the coronavirus chilled the nation.
—Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 4 May 2023
Some of the couple’s chilling findings from this study and others made it into the arguments during the landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka.
—Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 1 May 2023
The previous reading by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed signs the labor market is cooling off amid the Fed’s yearlong rate-hiking campaign to chill inflation.
—Andrew Torgan, CNN, 30 Apr. 2023
Laurie Jennings, the General Manager at the GH Institute, tested out this fridge in her home and appreciated its quiet operation, sturdy structure, ability to chill quickly and option to add leveling legs.
—Cassidy Olsen, Good Housekeeping, 31 Mar. 2023
Stir the cocktail using a swizzle spoon until it is chilled, about 20-30 seconds.
—Lana Bortolot, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2023
For a cooling effect to combat puffiness, a sunburn, or a migraine, a face roller that can be chilled would be your best bet.
—Lauren Manaker, Health, 27 Mar. 2023
Speaking of chilling, now that both Fraser and fellow comeback kid Ke Huy Quan are award-winning thespians, and their Encino Man costar Pauly Shore was rooting for his heeeeey-buddies, what are the chances of a sequel?
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 16 Mar. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chill.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English chile chill, frost, from Old English ciele; akin to Old English ceald cold
First Known Use
Noun
1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adjective
circa 1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1b
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of chill was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing chill
Articles Related to chill
Dictionary Entries Near chill
Cite this Entry
“Chill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chill. Accessed 7 Jun. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
chill
1 of 3 noun1
: a feeling of cold accompanied by shivering
chills and fever
2
: a moderate but unpleasant amount of cold
there was a chill in the air
chill
2 of 3 adjective1
: unpleasantly cold : raw
nights grew chill
2
: not friendly
a chill greeting
chillness
noun
chill
3 of 3 verb1
: to make or become cold or chilly
2
: to cool without freezing
chill the pudding for dessert
3
: to affect as if with cold
we were chilled by the ghost story
4
chiller
noun
Medical Definition
chill
1 of 2 noun1
: a sensation of cold accompanied by shivering
2
: a disagreeable sensation of coldness
chill
2 of 2 intransitive verb1
a
: to become cold
b
: to shiver or quake with or as if with cold
2
: to become affected with a chill
: to make cold or chilly
Legal Definition
chill
transitive verb
: to discourage especially through fear of penalty : have a chilling effect on
statutes which may chill the exercise of…free expression—M. H. Redish
M. H. Redish
More from Merriam-Webster on chill
Nglish: Translation of chill for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of chill for Arabic Speakers
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