unwell

adjective

un·​well ˌən-ˈwel How to pronounce unwell (audio)
1
: being in poor health : ailing, sick
2
: undergoing menstruation

Examples of unwell in a Sentence

Miss Bennett, are you unwell? I am sorry she is feeling unwell.
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.
The cumulative effect of those interpretations directly shapes how socially well—or unwell—people feel. Gillian Oakenfull, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025 My education of measles was, at one point, limited to a single page in a medical school textbook with a grainy photo from decades ago displaying an unwell child covered in a rash. James M. Gaylor, Baltimore Sun, 7 Apr. 2025 Rebecca Hind of Cumbria, England, first began feeling unwell after an office Christmas party in December 2018, according to The Telegraph. Toria Sheffield, People.com, 25 May 2025 This could be anything from a passenger feeling sick to light-headed or generally unwell. Duncan Madden, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for unwell

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unwell was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unwell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unwell. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

unwell

adjective
un·​well ˌən-ˈwel How to pronounce unwell (audio)
ˈən-
: being in poor health : ailing, sick

Medical Definition

unwell

adjective
un·​well -ˈwel How to pronounce unwell (audio)
: being in poor health : sick

More from Merriam-Webster on unwell

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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