noun
willies
Willies (noun) means a strong feeling of nervousness, unease, or fear (always used with 'the'). Example: “That abandoned house gives me the willies.”
noun
1
A strong feeling of nervousness, unease, or fear (always used with 'the').
"Staying in the haunted house gave me the willies."
"That abandoned house gives me the willies."
"Walking through the empty car park at night gives her the willies."
How to use willies
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA jumpy, uneasy, spooked feeling — informal and always plural, always with 'the'.
When to use it
Informal; common in speech, less so in formal writing.
Common pairings
gives me the willies
get the willies
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like willies.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- the willies
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
That abandoned house gives me the _____.
Etymology
First recorded in the 1890s; possibly linked to "the woollies" (an old dialect term for the itchy, uneasy feeling of wearing wool), though some trace it to the Wilis — ghostly spirits in the ballet Giselle.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for willies
See all rhymes for willies →Frequently asked questions
What does “willies” mean?
The word “willies” means a strong feeling of nervousness, unease, or fear (always used with 'the'). In plain terms, a jumpy, uneasy, spooked feeling — informal and always plural, always with 'the'.
How do you use “willies” in a sentence?
Here is “willies” used in a sentence: “That abandoned house gives me the willies.”
What part of speech is “willies”?
“Willies” is a noun.
Where does the word “willies” come from?
The word “willies” dates back to around 1890. First recorded in the 1890s; possibly linked to "the woollies" (an old dialect term for the itchy, uneasy feeling of wearing wool), though some trace it to the Wilis — ghostly spirits in the ballet Giselle.
