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.
In the week leading up to his overdose, Prince had been unwell and forced to cancel shows in Atlanta. Alex Gurley, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025 The 47-year-old felt unwell during the week and missed Friday’s pre-match press conference, with assistant head coach Jason Tindall instead facing the media. Chris Waugh, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025 My mum had been feeling unwell for a while and had taken to her bed on Christmas Eve. Geoff Dyer, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025 Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors Justin Bieber's rep has shut down the rumors that the pop star is unwell. Matt Robison, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 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 1 May. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!