very sick

USAGE SUMMARY

"very sick" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the state of someone or something that is significantly ill. For example, "My aunt is very sick and was admitted to the hospital last night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Very sick.

The New Yorker

"He's just very sick.

The New Yorker

"He was very sick.

The New Yorker

He's very sick.

The New Yorker

Congressman Goodnight Very Sick.

The New York Times

She was very sick.

The Guardian

They're very sick.

The Guardian - Music

It's very sick".

The New York Times

"He's very sick," she said.

The New Yorker

Very sick and positive music.

Stanford University

Very sick track - play it!

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "very sick" when you want to emphasize the severity of an illness or to express concern. For instance, instead of saying someone is simply "sick", stating they are "very sick" highlights that their condition is serious.

Common error

While "very sick" is acceptable, overuse of "very" can weaken your writing. Consider stronger synonyms like "gravely ill" or "critically ill" for more impactful descriptions. Be mindful of the frequency of "very" in your text.

Linguistic Context

Adverbial intensifier combined with an adjective. "Very sick" functions to intensify the degree to which someone or something is ill. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, with numerous examples demonstrating its function in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "very sick" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a severe illness. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use across diverse contexts, including news, academic writing, and personal narratives. While effective, it's important to be mindful of overusing "very" and to consider stronger synonyms like "gravely ill" or "critically ill" for more impactful writing. Overall, "very sick" is a reliable and versatile phrase for conveying the seriousness of a health condition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely ill

Emphasizes the severity of the illness using a different adverb.

gravely ill

Indicates a serious and concerning state of health.

seriously unwell

Uses "unwell" instead of "sick" offering a slightly more formal tone.

critically ill

Implies the illness is life-threatening and requires immediate attention.

terribly sick

Replaces "very" with "terribly" to convey strong emotion.

intensely sick

Suggests a high degree of sickness.

dreadfully sick

Indicates a strong feeling of unpleasantness associated with the sickness.

unusually sick

Highlights that the sickness is out of the ordinary.

quite ill

Offers a slightly less intense way to express illness.

awfully sick

Uses "awfully" as an intensifier to emphasize the degree of sickness.

FAQs

What does "very sick" mean?

The phrase "very sick" describes a condition of being seriously ill, indicating a more severe state of sickness than just feeling unwell.

What are some alternative ways to say "very sick"?

You can use alternatives like "extremely ill", "gravely ill", or "seriously unwell" to convey a similar meaning with slightly different nuances.

Is it grammatically correct to say "very sick"?

Yes, "very sick" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English. It follows the standard structure of an adverb modifying an adjective.

When is it appropriate to use "very sick" in writing?

It is appropriate to use "very sick" when you want to emphasize the severity of an illness or condition. However, consider using stronger synonyms if you find yourself overusing the phrase.