quite ill

USAGE SUMMARY

"quite ill" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
You can use "quite ill" to express that someone is significantly and noticeably ill, but not necessarily to the point of being hospitalized or in critical condition. It conveys that their illness is not mild or minor, but also not severe or life-threatening. Example: "After catching the flu, John was feeling quite ill and had to take a few days off work to rest and recover."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He became quite ill.

Independent

I got quite ill at one point.

The Guardian

I knew that he was quite ill.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I believe he is quite ill.

The Guardian

Q.A friend recently fell quite ill with something called ehrlichiosis.

The New York Times

It caused an infection that made the patient quite ill.

The New York Times - Health

He was quite ill at 94, someone said.

The New York Times

Entering woman said "I hear you were quite ill".

The New Yorker

And if you eat enough of them, you'll get quite ill.

Cornell University

By then, Mr. Tripe was quite ill and he came back to England in 1860.

The New York Times

Just after she reached the halfway point, though, she suddenly fell quite ill.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "quite ill" to describe a condition that is more serious than just "feeling unwell", but not as critical as "gravely ill". It suggests a noticeable impact on health.

Common error

Avoid using "quite ill" when the situation warrants stronger terms like "critically ill" or "hospitalized", as it might downplay the seriousness of the condition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quite ill" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, modifying the adjective "ill" to intensify its meaning. It describes the extent or degree of someone's sickness, indicating a state of being noticeably unwell. Ludwig confirms that this is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

22%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "quite ill" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase that conveys a significant degree of sickness. As highlighted by Ludwig, it indicates a condition more serious than simply "unwell", but not necessarily critical. The phrase is versatile and appears frequently in news, academic, and scientific contexts. While alternatives like "rather unwell" or "seriously sick" can be used, "quite ill" provides a balanced and widely understood description of someone's health status. It's important not to overstate or understate the illness and to use context-appropriate language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rather unwell

Replaces "ill" with "unwell" and "quite" with "rather", indicating a similar level of sickness but with a slightly softer tone.

seriously sick

Emphasizes the severity of the illness, suggesting a more critical condition than "quite ill".

gravely sick

Implies a severe and potentially life-threatening illness.

extremely unhealthy

Focuses on the state of being unhealthy, potentially encompassing more than just illness.

badly ailing

Uses "ailing" to describe a decline in health, with "badly" highlighting the severity.

suffering severely

Shifts focus to the experience of suffering due to the illness, emphasizing the discomfort and distress.

in poor health

Indicates a general state of poor health, which can be long-term or chronic, rather than a specific acute illness.

not feeling well

A more general statement indicating discomfort or mild illness.

under the weather

An idiomatic expression for feeling slightly unwell.

laid up

Suggests being confined due to illness, implying a period of inactivity.

FAQs

How do I use "quite ill" in a sentence?

Use "quite ill" to describe someone experiencing a significant level of sickness, for example: "After the trip, he became "quite ill" and had to stay home from work."

What's the difference between "quite ill" and "slightly ill"?

"Quite ill" indicates a more serious condition than "slightly ill". "Quite ill" suggests a noticeable impact on one's health, whereas "slightly ill" implies a minor ailment.

What can I say instead of "quite ill"?

You can use alternatives like "rather unwell", "seriously sick", or "gravely sick" depending on the context and the severity of the illness.

Is "quite ill" formal or informal?

"Quite ill" is generally considered a neutral expression suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal settings, "gravely sick" might be preferred to convey a more serious condition.