pill

1 of 2

verb (1)

ˈpil 

pilled; pilling; pills

intransitive verb

dialectal, chiefly England : to come off in flakes or scales : peel

transitive verb

1

archaic : to subject to depredation or extortion

2

dialect : to peel or strip off

pill

2 of 2

verb (2)

pilled; pilling; pills

transitive verb

1

: to dose with pills

2

: blackball

intransitive verb

: to become rough with or mat into little balls

brushed woolens often pill

Examples of pill in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Since instant wrinkle removers are meant for wear during the day, goPure created a formula that isn’t chalky, doesn’t pill, and can actually layer seamlessly with concealer and foundation. —Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 2 June 2026

Soft-matte with a priming shine-control complex, this chemical sunscreen is a pore-blurring innovation that doesn’t pill. —Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 23 May 2026

While high-quality sheets may not pill as much, any flannel can pill. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2026

The sweater fabric is soft, high-quality, and doesn’t pill. —Jordyn Burrell, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English pilen, pillen, partly from Old English pilian to peel, partly from Anglo-French piler to rob

First Known Use

Verb (1)

12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Verb (2)

1736, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing pill

• abortion pill
• birth-control pill
• contraceptive pill
• dummy pill
• mini-pill
• morning after pill
• pep pill
• pill bug
• poison pill
• pre-pill
• red-pill
• sleeping pill
• sugar pill
• sugar/sweeten the pill
• take the red pill
• water pill

Rhymes for pill

• bill
• brill
• chill
• drill
• fil
• fill
• frill
• gill
• grill
• grille
• jill
• kill

Kids Definition

pill

1 of 2 noun

ˈpil 

1

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

noun

ˈpil 

1

: 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