English Reference

Phrasal verb

chill out

Definition

phrasal verb. to relax completely or stop worrying about something. You use this when you want to spend time doing nothing stressful.

phrasal verb. to relax or calm down; often used as an intransitive imperative to suggest a reduction in emotional intensity or stress.

Examples

“I just want to chill out and watch a movie.”

“After a long week at the office, we usually go to the park to chill out.”

“The atmosphere at the retreat was designed to help guests chill out and disconnect from their digital lives entirely.”

Examples

simple

“I just want to chill out and watch a movie.”

contextual

“After a long week at the office, we usually go to the park to chill out.”

complex

“The atmosphere at the retreat was designed to help guests chill out and disconnect from their digital lives entirely.”

Usage

very common in informal speech; can be used as a command to tell someone to stop being angry.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'relax' to show register difference; 'chill out' is much more casual and popular among younger speakers.

Pitfall

You need to chill out yourself.

You need to chill out.

this phrasal verb is usually intransitive and does not take a reflexive pronoun like 'yourself'.

Etymology

From chill and out.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Phrasal verb

Particles

out

Separability

inseparable

Pattern

chill + out

Synonyms

unwindloosen uprelax

Antonyms

stress outpanicwork hard

Grammar

Phrasal verbs (introduction)

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
Level
A2 · ElementaryOxford
Updated

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