gravely sick

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gravely sick" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is very ill or in a serious medical condition. Example: "After the diagnosis, the doctor informed the family that their loved one was gravely sick and needed immediate care."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

"I explained to him that my son was sick, gravely sick," Detective Canale said.

The New York Times

The Druids offered human sacrifices for those who were gravely sick or in danger of death in battle.

Encyclopedia Britannica

If someone complains to the entire company about how much trouble it is that a couple of babies were gravely sick, would you put it past him to fire employees who were about to be due a big contribution?

The New Yorker

We read stories of people complaining of excruciating pain but receiving no painkillers, of gravely sick people complaining of the symptoms of septic shock and being treated for dehydration, of families having to watch their loved being shackled to a hospital bed despite, on many occasions, being in a coma or reliant on machines to breathe.

The Guardian

Doctors, in the interest of keeping down expenses in order to earn managed-care bonuses, will feel pressured to urge the gravely sick to give up.

Forbes

I have been gravely sick before, but most assuredly never like this.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

They included two gravely ill women, 40 and 47, but not all were seriously sick, the authorities have said.

The New York Times

The girl had been gravely ill with malaria, he says – "so sick I thought she would die".

Unicef

A Los Angeles Times analysis of official comments filed with federal agencies before the final regulations were issued found more than 98% — or 335 of 340 — of the healthcare groups that commented on the short-term health proposal criticized it, in many cases warning that the rule could gravely hurt sick patients.

Los Angeles Times

Earlier this year, a Los Angeles Times analysis of official comments filed with federal agencies before the final regulation was issued found more than 98% — or 335 of 340 — of the healthcare groups that commented on the proposal criticized it, in many cases warning that the rule could gravely hurt sick patients.

Los Angeles Times

"When Sanjay Gupta showed how powerful cannabis treatment can be for gravely ill children [on his CNN documentary 'Weed'], it sent a beacon of hope to thousands of parents of sick children around the world," Steve DeAngelo said.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a person's health status, use "gravely sick" to convey a sense of extreme seriousness and urgency. For less severe situations, consider alternatives like "seriously ill" or "unwell".

Common error

Avoid using "gravely sick" in casual conversation or informal writing. This phrase carries a heavy connotation of severity and is more appropriate for formal or professional settings, or when precise medical descriptions are needed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gravely sick" functions primarily as a descriptive adjective phrase modifying a noun (usually a person). As Ludwig AI shows, it emphasizes the severity and seriousness of an illness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "gravely sick" is an adjective phrase used to describe a state of severe illness, as Ludwig AI confirms. It is grammatically correct and suitable for formal contexts like news reports, medical documents, and professional communications. While not commonly used in casual conversation, it effectively conveys a high degree of concern and urgency. Alternatives such as "critically ill" or "seriously ill" can be used depending on the specific nuance intended. Avoiding overuse in informal settings and understanding the seriousness it implies are key to its proper application.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

critically ill

Replaces "sick" with "ill" and "gravely" with "critically", emphasizing the severity of the condition.

seriously ill

Uses "seriously" instead of "gravely", which implies a dangerous or life-threatening condition.

dangerously sick

Uses "dangerously" to highlight the risk associated with the illness.

in critical condition

Focuses on the medical state and severity of the condition, rather than just the sickness itself.

acutely unwell

Replaces "sick" with "unwell" and "gravely" with "acutely", suggesting a sudden and severe onset of illness.

desperately sick

Implies a sense of urgency and concern due to the severity of the illness.

terminally ill

Indicates that the sickness will lead to death.

life-threatening illness

Emphasizes the potential for the illness to result in death.

close to death

Shifts the focus to the proximity of death as a result of the illness.

gravely injured

Replaces "sick" with "injured", indicating the condition is due to physical harm.

FAQs

What does "gravely sick" mean?

The phrase "gravely sick" describes a state of severe illness or a serious medical condition that poses a significant threat to one's health. It implies that the person is in a critical or life-threatening state.

When is it appropriate to use the term "gravely sick"?

Use "gravely sick" when you want to emphasize the severity of an illness. It's suitable in formal contexts, medical reports, news articles, or when conveying a sense of urgency or seriousness. Avoid using it in casual conversation unless the situation truly warrants it.

What can I say instead of "gravely sick"?

You can use alternatives like "critically ill", "seriously ill", "in critical condition", or "life-threatening illness" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "gravely sick" and "seriously ill"?

While both phrases indicate a severe medical condition, "gravely sick" tends to convey a higher degree of severity and a more immediate sense of danger than "seriously ill". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to express.