UNWELL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does unwell mean? 

• UNWELL (adjective)
  The adjective UNWELL has 1 sense:

1. somewhat ill or prone to illness

  Familiarity information: UNWELL used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• UNWELL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Somewhat ill or prone to illness

Synonyms:

ailing; indisposed; peaked; poorly; seedy; sickly; under the weather; unwell

Context example:

is unwell and can't come to work

Similar:

ill; sick (affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function)

Derivation:

unwellness (impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism)

 Context examples 

Oh! Anne, I am so very unwell!

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

— she looks very unwell, has lost her colour, and is grown quite thin.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Five minutes later I heard steps passing down the passage, and, without striking a light, I opened my door and peeped out, thinking that some one was taken unwell.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“I perceive that you have been unwell lately. Summer colds are always a little trying.”

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Tea. Your mistress is a little unwell. Don't dawdle.”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

If the gangrene is internal, you may run a fever and feel unwell, and the area may be swollen and painful.

(Gangrene, NIH)

You also have at least four of these other symptoms: • Feeling unwell for more than 24 hours after physical activity • Muscle pain • Memory problems • Headaches • Pain in multiple joints • Sleep problems • Sore throat • Tender lymph nodes

(Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

In addition to all the rest, there had been the shock of finding her so very unwell, which he had had no previous suspicion of—and there was every appearance of his having been feeling a great deal.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Mrs. Collins, seeing that she was really unwell, did not press her to go and as much as possible prevented her husband from pressing her; but Mr. Collins could not conceal his apprehension of Lady Catherine's being rather displeased by her staying at home.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

If, therefore (turning again to Fanny), you find yourself growing unwell, and any difficulties arise about your returning to Mansfield, without waiting for the two months to be ended, that must not be regarded as of any consequence, if you feel yourself at all less strong or comfortable than usual, and will only let my sister know it, give her only the slightest hint, she and I will immediately come down, and take you back to Mansfield.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)