# chills

/ˈtʃɪɫz/ (US) · /tʃˈɪlz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/chills
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. feeling cold or sick

noun · CEFR B1

a feeling of being cold and shivering, usually when you have a fever or are getting sick.

For teachers: a sensation of coldness accompanied by shivering, typically serving as a clinical symptom of fever or infection.

- I had terrible chills and a fever all night, so I stayed in bed.
- The patient reported sudden onset chills and muscle aches, which are common early indicators of a viral infection.

Usage: Often used with the verb 'to have' or 'to get'.

### 2. strong emotion

noun · CEFR B2

a physical feeling of excitement or fear that makes your skin tingle.

For teachers: a sudden physical sensation of excitement, fear, or awe, often manifesting as goosebumps.

- The singer's voice was so beautiful that it gave me chills.
- The haunting melody of the cello gave the entire audience chills, creating a moment of profound silence in the concert hall.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'to give someone chills'.

## Examples

- I got chills when the cold wind blew.
- She wrapped her coat tighter as the evening chills set in.
- The eerie silence of the abandoned house gave him sudden chills, a physical reaction to the creeping dread in the air.

---

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.