pill
9 synonyms for pill, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A small solid tablet of medicine meant to be swallowed.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use pill
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
take a pill
go on the pill
a bitter pill to swallow
Etymology
From Middle English pille, ultimately from Latin pila/pilula, "little ball."
Full origin of pill →Frequently asked questions
What does “pill” mean?
The word “pill” means a small solid tablet of medicine meant to be swallowed. In plain terms, a tablet of medicine, the contraceptive pill, or (informally) an annoying person.
How do you pronounce “pill”?
“Pill” is pronounced pihl (/pɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “pill” in a sentence?
Here is “pill” used in a sentence: “She takes a pill every morning to manage her blood pressure.”
What is another word for “pill”?
Words with a similar meaning to “pill” include tablet.
What part of speech is “pill”?
“Pill” is a noun.
Where does the word “pill” come from?
The word “pill” comes from Latin. From Middle English pille, ultimately from Latin pila/pilula, "little ball.".
Is “pill” a common word?
“Pill” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “pill” have?
“Pill” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small solid tablet of medicine meant to be swallowed.
What is the difference between a pill, a tablet, and a capsule?
Pill is the everyday umbrella word for any small solid piece of medicine meant to be swallowed. A tablet is medicine compressed into a solid shape, while a capsule holds the medicine inside a soluble shell, so both count as pills in ordinary speech.
