# unwell

/ənˈwɛɫ/ (US) · /ʌnwˈɛl/ (UK) · CEFR A2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unwell
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

feeling sick or not healthy. You use this word to describe someone who is ill, but it often sounds a bit more polite or formal than saying 'sick'.

For teachers: suffering from illness or poor health. Often used predicatively following linking verbs such as 'feel', 'look', or 'seem'.

## Examples

- He stayed home today because he felt unwell.
- The teacher noticed that Sarah looked quite unwell and suggested she visit the school nurse.
- Although she appeared physically recovered, she continued to feel generally unwell for several weeks following the initial infection.

## Pitfalls

- Not "an unwell man" but "a sick man" — In modern English, 'unwell' is almost always used after a verb like 'is' or 'feels' rather than directly before a noun.

## Usage notes

- Typically used predicatively (after the verb) rather than attributively (before the noun).

---

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.