fell sick

USAGE SUMMARY

"fell sick" is a valid phrase that can be used in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone who has become ill, for example: "John fell sick and had to stay home from work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

An actress fell sick.

The Guardian - Film

He fell sick three days later.

The Washington Post

"My son fell sick soon after".

The Guardian

Not long after, he fell sick himself.

The New York Times

The trumpeter fell sick before Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique.

The Guardian - Music

Other cows had problems – some fell sick and died.

The Guardian

One was arrested, while the other fell sick and abandoned the voyage.

The Guardian

In 1939 Cheatham fell sick and was never really well until the sixties.

The New Yorker

Six children died in the scandal and some 300,000 fell sick amid a nationwide panic.

The New York Times

The singer fell sick during rehearsals and did not perform that summer.

The New Yorker

When she fell sick, he visited her home to wish her well.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the onset of an illness, "fell sick" is often used to indicate a sudden or noticeable change in health. Ensure that the context clearly establishes who or what is experiencing the illness.

Common error

Avoid using "fall sick" when referring to a past event; use "fell sick" instead. "Fall sick" is appropriate for general statements or future possibilities, while "fell sick" indicates a completed action in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fell sick" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating the onset of an illness or a decline in health. Ludwig shows its usage across various contexts to describe a past event of someone becoming ill.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

23%

Science

18%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fell sick" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe the onset of illness. As Ludwig AI indicates, it appears across a broad spectrum of contexts, particularly in news, formal documents, and scientific reports. Its neutral register makes it suitable for various communication styles. Related phrases such as "became ill" or "took ill" offer similar meanings with subtle differences. To ensure accurate usage, remember to use "fell sick" when referring to a past event and be mindful of the context to convey the intended meaning effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Became ill

Direct synonym, focusing on the state of illness.

Took ill

Implies a sudden onset of illness.

Became unwell

A more general term for not being in good health.

Contracted an illness

More specific, suggests acquiring a disease.

Was afflicted with

Suggests suffering from a disease or condition.

Succumbed to illness

Implies weakness or vulnerability to disease.

Developed a condition

More formal and clinical term.

Came down with something

Informal, indicates catching a minor illness.

Was diagnosed with

Focuses on the medical identification of the illness.

Lapsed into sickness

Suggests a gradual decline into illness.

FAQs

How can I use "fell sick" in a sentence?

You can use "fell sick" to describe someone becoming ill. For example, "She "fell sick" after the trip."

What are some alternatives to "fell sick"?

Alternatives include "became ill", "took ill", or "contracted an illness". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "fall sick" instead of "fell sick"?

"Fall sick" is the present tense form, used for general statements or future possibilities. "Fell sick" is the past tense, used to describe a past event. Use "fell sick" when describing a past instance of someone becoming ill.

What's the difference between "fell sick" and "became ill"?

While both phrases indicate the onset of illness, "fell sick" often implies a more sudden or noticeable change in health compared to "became ill", which can describe a gradual decline.