chillier; chilliest
1
: noticeably cold : chilling
a chilly day
2
: unpleasantly affected by cold
chilly spectators
3
: lacking warmth of feeling : unfriendly
a chilly reception
4
: tending to arouse fear or apprehension
chilly suspicions
chillily adverb
chilliness noun

Examples of chilly in a Sentence

It's a little chilly outside. You must be chilly without a coat on. They gave him a chilly reception.
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.
Snowy, cold winter expected in Kentucky following historic 2025 weather While winter doesn't officially begin until the winter solstice on December 21, the Farmer's Almanac is already predicting a chilly, snowy season for much of the country, including Kentucky. Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 13 Aug. 2025 Plunging into the chilly waters off the western coast of Canada, a pair of scuba divers swam along the seafloor near an octopus. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2025 Northwest: Rain and wet snow for Idaho, Oregon and Washington Good news for skiers in the Northwest region (Idaho, Oregon and Washington) because there's overall chilly and wet conditions expected this winter. Mike Snider, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025 The turtleneck style will keep you warm in the winter (or in a chilly office pumping AC in the summer). Dory Zayas, Glamour, 11 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for chilly

Word History

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chilly was in 1570

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chilly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chilly. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

chilly

adjective
chillier; chilliest
1
: noticeably cold
2
: unpleasantly affected by cold
3
: not friendly
a chilly response
chilliness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on chilly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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