adjective
unwell
uhn-WEHL
adjective
1
Not feeling well; somewhat ill.
"He stayed home from work because he felt unwell."
"She looked unwell and went to lie down."
How to Use Unwell
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA polite, mild way of saying someone is sick.
When to use it
More formal or gentle-sounding than "sick" — common in professional or polite settings.
Common pairings
feel unwell
look unwell
Word Forms
more unwell comparative, most unwell superlative
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He stayed home from work because he felt _____.
Etymology
From un- (\"not\") plus well.