1
a
: a usually medicinal or dietary preparation in a small rounded mass to be swallowed whole
b
or Pill
: birth control pill
—usually used with the
2
: something repugnant or unpleasant that must be accepted or endured
3
: something resembling a pill in size or shape
4
: a disagreeable or tiresome person
pilled; pilling; pills
: to become rough with or mat into little balls
brushed woolens often pill
Examples of pill in a Sentence
Noun
She took a pill for her headache.
The drug is available as a pill or a liquid.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nicola Dall'asen, Allure, 7 May 2025
The film’s slim thread to recognizable reality is Kendrick’s Stephanie, who always looks like someone who would nervously pill a dinner roll while pretending to be totally absorbed in the table conversation.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 6 June 2025
The therapist has been getting his act together after spending his nights sublimating the pain with booze and pills, and leaving his also-grieving teen daughter, Alice (Lukita Maxwell), to be parented by his blunt next-door neighbor, Liz (Christa Miller).
—Mekishana Pierre Published, EW.com, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pill
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Romanowski warns that light textures such as this generally come at the cost of longer-term barrier support and moisturization, but that’s fine by me considering this formula doesn’t pill when layered underneath other creams or petroleum jelly.
—Nicola Dall'asen, Allure, 7 May 2025
The film’s slim thread to recognizable reality is Kendrick’s Stephanie, who always looks like someone who would nervously pill a dinner roll while pretending to be totally absorbed in the table conversation.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
Last fall, a federal jury found Thompson, of Brooklyn Park, guilty of federal drug and weapons charges connected with the crash; more than 2,000 fentanyl pills and a Glock 40 semiautomatic handgun were found inside the Cadillac after the crash.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 6 June 2025
The therapist has been getting his act together after spending his nights sublimating the pain with booze and pills, and leaving his also-grieving teen daughter, Alice (Lukita Maxwell), to be parented by his blunt next-door neighbor, Liz (Christa Miller).
—Mekishana Pierre Published, EW.com, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pill
Cite this Entry
“Pill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pill. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pill
1 of 2 noun1
a
: medicine or a food supplement in a small rounded mass to be swallowed whole
b
often capitalized
: an oral contraceptive
—usually used with the
2
: something resembling a pill in shape or size
3
: something unpleasant that must be accepted or endured
4
: an unpleasant or tiresome person
pill
2 of 2 verb
of a garment
: to develop small balls of fiber on the surface because of wear
Medical Definition
pill
noun1
: a usually medicinal or dietary preparation in a small rounded mass to be swallowed whole
2
often capitalized
: birth control pill
—usually used with the
has been on the pill for three years
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