# bill

/ˈbɪɫ/ (US) · /bˈɪl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bill
Updated: 2026-07-11

## Senses

### 1. request for payment

noun · CEFR A1

a piece of paper that shows how much money you must pay for something you bought.

For teachers: an itemised statement of money owed for goods provided or services rendered.

- The waiter brought the bill to our table after we finished our coffee.
- The utility company sent a surprisingly high bill this month, prompting us to check the meter for potential leaks.

### 2. paper money

noun · CEFR A2 · American English

a piece of paper money.

For teachers: a piece of paper currency issued by a central bank.

- He reached into his wallet and pulled out a twenty-dollar bill.
- The cashier refused to accept the hundred-dollar bill because the shop lacked sufficient change in the register.

### 3. bird's beak

noun · CEFR B1

the hard mouth part of a bird.

For teachers: the horny projecting mouthparts of a bird; a beak.

- The duck dipped its bill into the water to look for food.
- The woodpecker's sturdy bill is specifically adapted for drumming against tree trunks to locate insects beneath the bark.

### 4. proposed law

noun · CEFR B2

a plan for a new law that a government is discussing.

For teachers: a draft of a proposed statute presented to a legislature for discussion and potential enactment.

- The new bill aims to protect the local forest from building projects.
- After months of heated debate, the environmental bill finally passed the lower house with several significant amendments.

### 5. the police

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Slang

a slang name for the police.

For teachers: a collective slang term for the police force.

- The teenagers ran away when they saw the Bill arriving.
- He spent half his life trying to stay one step ahead of the Bill, but his luck eventually ran out.

Teaching tip: Often used with 'the' or as 'Old Bill'. It is informal and specific to the UK.

### 6. to send an invoice

verb · CEFR B1

to send someone a paper asking for payment.

For teachers: to send a statement of charges to a client or customer.

- The lawyer will bill you for the time spent on your case.
- The consultancy firm bills its clients on a monthly basis, providing a detailed breakdown of all hours worked.

### 7. to advertise

verb · CEFR B2

to describe or advertise someone in a certain way.

For teachers: to advertise or schedule a person or event in a particular role or manner.

- The movie was billed as the most exciting thriller of the year.
- The festival organisers billed the young pianist as a child prodigy, though she was already in her late teens.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.