pill
pihl
Pill (noun) means a small solid tablet of medicine meant to be swallowed. Example: “Swallow the pill with a glass of water after your meal.”
noun
1
A small solid tablet of medicine meant to be swallowed.
"Swallow the pill with a glass of water after your meal."
"She takes a pill every morning to manage her blood pressure."
"The doctor prescribed a two-week course of pills for the infection."
2
Short for "the pill" — an oral contraceptive.
"She asked her doctor whether the pill would suit her."
"Some women take the pill to make their periods more regular."
"She's been on the pill for years."
3
Informally, an annoying or unpleasant person.
"My brother can be a real pill when he's tired."
"Don't be a pill; just come to the party with us."
"Stop being such a pill about the schedule change."
How to use pill
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tablet of medicine, the contraceptive pill, or (informally) an annoying person.
Common mistake
"A bitter pill to swallow" is an idiom for accepting bad news, not a literal medicine reference.
Common pairings
take a pill
go on the pill
a bitter pill to swallow
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Word forms
- Plural
- pills
- Third person singular
- pills
- Past tense
- pilled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Swallow the _____ with a glass of water after your meal.
Etymology
From Middle English pille, ultimately from Latin pila/pilula, "little ball."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for pill
See all rhymes for 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.
