has fallen sick

USAGE SUMMARY

"has fallen sick" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to talk about somebody who has become unwell - for example, "My cousin has fallen sick with a cold."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

As anyone who has fallen sick or lost their job can tell you, net wealth is often vital.

The Economist

(Don't you adore rich men who hide themselves away?) She is there in lieu of her roommate, who was meant to interview Grey for the college newspaper but has fallen sick.

The New Yorker

"Three times, Hodan has fallen sick, and these ladies have stopped it from becoming much worse.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Parents in the school and parishioners were told only that Father Ratigan had fallen sick from carbon monoxide poisoning.

The New York Times

(Having fallen sick after the defendants punctured a little effigy of him, he's got his reasons).

The New York Times - Books

Of the 100,000 Ivorians said to have fallen sick, 30,000 are suing the secretive oil trading firm Trafigura in Britain.

The Guardian

The majority of the babies who have fallen sick had definitely consumed the Sanlu formula, the ministry said in a statement on its Web site.

The New York Times

He, now that he has got us, plagues us in the most desperate fashion; many of us, in consequence, have fallen sick already- many more expect to follow.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

If it weren't for all those late nights during college spent studying and going to parties, would I still have fallen sick?

The New York Times

Thirty-nine people have died in northern India and more than two dozen others have fallen sick after drinking bootleg liquor containing toxic methanol.

The Guardian

Officials contacted 439 people who attended the event and found 123 had fallen sick with symptoms including fever, headache, cough, shortness of breath and aches.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has fallen sick" to describe a state of illness that has recently occurred. It is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "has fell sick". The correct past participle of "fall" is "fallen".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has fallen sick" functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating that the subject has transitioned into a state of illness. Ludwig AI confirms that this is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

16%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has fallen sick" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, used to indicate that someone has recently become ill. Ludwig AI analysis confirms this. While not as common as alternatives like "has become ill", it is readily understood and found in a variety of sources, including news media, business documents, and scientific articles. Its register is generally neutral, making it appropriate for both formal and informal contexts. Keep in mind the correct past participle of "fall" is "fallen".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has become ill

Replaces "fallen sick" with a more general term for becoming unwell.

has taken ill

Uses "taken ill" which is a slightly more formal way of saying someone has become sick.

has been afflicted with illness

More formal and emphasizes the suffering caused by the illness.

has contracted a disease

Focuses on the acquisition of a specific disease.

has been diagnosed with

Highlights the medical identification of a condition.

is unwell

A simpler and more direct way of saying someone is not well.

is ailing

A more literary or old-fashioned term for being sick.

is under the weather

An informal idiom for feeling slightly ill.

is laid up

Implies being confined due to illness.

is incapacitated

Emphasizes the disabling effect of the illness.

FAQs

What does "has fallen sick" mean?

The phrase "has fallen sick" means that someone has recently become ill or unwell. It indicates a change of state from healthy to sick.

What can I say instead of "has fallen sick"?

You can use alternatives like "has become ill", "has taken ill", or "is unwell" depending on the context.

Is "has fallen sick" formal or informal?

"Has fallen sick" is generally considered neutral in formality. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though more formal alternatives like "has taken ill" might be preferred in certain situations.

What's the difference between "has fallen sick" and "has fallen ill"?

The phrases "has fallen sick" and "has fallen ill" are largely interchangeable. "Ill" is slightly more common in modern usage, but both convey the same meaning.