he fell ill

USAGE SUMMARY

"He fell ill" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a person contracting an illness or disease. For example, "He fell ill with the flu and was bedridden for a week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He fell ill.

The Economist

Then he fell ill.

The Guardian - Books

In 1863 he fell ill with malaria.

The New York Times

He fell ill minutes later.

The Guardian

Soon afterward, he fell ill and left the chamber.

The New York Times

He fell ill almost immediately, and died five days later.

Independent

It was exhausting work, though, and he fell ill.

The Economist

He fell ill at the State Department on Friday.

The Guardian

He fell ill, and there was no medicine.

The New York Times

After Peter Lundqvist returned home, he fell ill.

The New York Times - Sports

While staying in Santa Fe, New Mexico, he fell ill.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he fell ill" to describe the onset of an illness, particularly when the timing is relatively sudden or specific.

Common error

While alternatives like "he became indisposed" exist, they are often too formal for everyday conversation. Stick to "he fell ill" or "he got sick" for general use.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he fell ill" functions as a verb phrase indicating the commencement of an illness. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in various contexts. This conforms to standard English grammar.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Encyclopedias

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he fell ill" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote the onset of sickness. According to Ludwig, it is considered correct and is widely employed across diverse sources such as news media, encyclopedias, and online wikis. While alternatives exist, "he fell ill" provides a clear and neutral way to convey that someone has become sick, making it suitable for various writing contexts. It's important to consider the level of formality needed when choosing between "he fell ill" and its alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he became sick

Focuses on the general state of being unwell, without necessarily implying a sudden onset.

he took sick

Emphasizes the act of becoming sick, implying a more immediate transition to illness.

he was stricken with illness

Highlights the sudden and forceful impact of the illness.

he succumbed to illness

Suggests a more severe condition where the person is overcome by the illness.

he contracted a disease

Specifies that the illness is a disease that was acquired.

he developed an ailment

Implies a gradual development of a minor illness.

he took a turn for the worse

Indicates a deterioration in an existing condition.

his health deteriorated

Focuses on the gradual decline of overall health.

he was laid up with

Suggests being confined due to illness.

he was indisposed

A more formal and polite way of saying someone is unwell.

FAQs

What's a more formal way to say "he fell ill"?

More formal alternatives include "he became indisposed" or "he succumbed to illness", although these may sound overly formal in everyday conversation.

How is "he fell ill" different from "he got sick"?

While both indicate illness, "he fell ill" often implies a more sudden or specific onset of illness compared to the more general "he got sick".

Can "he fell ill" be used to describe a mental health condition?

Yes, "he fell ill" can refer to both physical and mental health conditions, although it is more commonly used in reference to physical ailments.

What can I say instead of "he fell ill" to emphasize the severity of the illness?

To emphasize severity, you could say "he was stricken with illness" or "he succumbed to illness", which imply a more serious condition.