chill
chihl
Chill (noun) means an uncomfortable feeling of coldness. Example: “She pulled on a jumper to keep out the evening chill.”
noun
1
An uncomfortable feeling of coldness.
"She pulled on a jumper to keep out the evening chill."
"There was a chill in the air as the sun went down."
"A chill ran down her spine when she heard the noise."
adj
1
Calm and relaxed; easygoing about a situation.
"My flatmate is really chill, so we rarely argue about anything."
"Don't worry about being late, the teacher is pretty chill about it."
"He stayed chill even when the flight was delayed."
verb
1
To make something cold, or to become cold.
"Leave the dessert to chill in the fridge for at least two hours."
"Chill the wine before the guests arrive."
"The drinks were chilling in a bucket of ice."
2
To relax and take it easy, often with other people.
"After exams, I just want to chill on the sofa with a film."
"Shall we chill in the park this afternoon instead of going shopping?"
"We just chilled at home all weekend."
How to use chill
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCold, or the feeling of cold — and, informally, being relaxed or relaxing.
When to use it
The relaxed/easygoing sense ("just chill") is informal and common in casual speech.
Common pairings
chill out
a chill vibe
chill the champagne
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Word forms
- Plural
- chills
- Third person singular
- chills
- Past tense
- chilled
- Comparative
- more chill
- Superlative
- most chill
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She pulled on a jumper to keep out the evening _____.
Etymology
From Old English ċiele, meaning cold, going back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to be cold" — the same root gave us "cool" and "cold".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for chill
See all rhymes for chill →Frequently asked questions
What does “chill” mean?
The word “chill” means an uncomfortable feeling of coldness. In plain terms, cold, or the feeling of cold — and, informally, being relaxed or relaxing.
How do you pronounce “chill”?
“Chill” is pronounced chihl (/tʃɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “chill” in a sentence?
Here is “chill” used in a sentence: “There was a chill in the air as the sun went down.”
What part of speech is “chill”?
Depending on how it is used, “chill” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “chill” come from?
The word “chill” comes from Old English. From Old English ċiele, meaning cold, going back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to be cold" — the same root gave us "cool" and "cold".
Is “chill” a common word?
“Chill” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “chill” have?
“Chill” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an uncomfortable feeling of coldness.
What is the difference between chill and cold?
As a noun, chill is an uncomfortable feeling of coldness, often a mild or sudden one, while cold is the broader, general lack of warmth. A chill often suggests a shiver or a slight, penetrating coolness rather than deep cold. You might catch a chill from a draught, whereas cold describes the overall temperature.
When should you use chill instead of relax?
Chill is informal and best suited to casual conversation, as in telling someone to chill or describing a chill atmosphere. Relax is neutral and works in both casual and formal settings. In writing or professional contexts, relax is the safer choice.
What is the difference between chill and chilly?
Chill as a noun means a feeling of coldness, while chilly is an adjective meaning unpleasantly cold. You might feel a chill, or say the weather is chilly. Chill can also mean relaxed in slang, a meaning chilly does not share.
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