was feeling unwell

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was feeling unwell" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a state of discomfort or illness in the past. Example: "Yesterday, I was feeling unwell, so I decided to stay home and rest."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

She told her parents she was feeling unwell.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"He called the ambulance about two more times because he was feeling unwell.

The Guardian

Someone - I don't know who - asked me if I was feeling unwell.

The Guardian

"She said she was feeling unwell and still was determined to have her pregnancy terminated".

The Guardian

He told us he was feeling unwell and that his cousin, Mohammed, would be our guide instead.

The Guardian - Travel

I told the guy he should say I was feeling unwell and that he was driving me home.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

Later, Howard texts to say he is feeling unwell.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

If anyone is feeling unwell they are advised to call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

The Guardian

Cowley has been feeling unwell throughout the game, and has now been checked by medical staff.

The Guardian - Sport

I'd been feeling unwell for months but had put it down to my exuberant lifestyle as a tabloid journalist.

The Guardian

Although her hands were paining her and she'd been feeling unwell she was still writing and she had a deadline to meet.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a past state of health, ensure the tense is consistent. If you're using "was feeling unwell", maintain the past tense throughout the sentence for clarity.

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses when describing a past period of illness. For example, instead of saying "I was feeling unwell, but now I feel great", maintain past tense consistency: "I was feeling unwell, but then I started to feel better".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was feeling unwell" functions as a descriptive phrase, specifically an adjectival phrase, modifying a subject to indicate their state of health in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability, supported by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Science

14%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was feeling unwell" is a grammatically correct and commonly used way to describe a past state of discomfort or illness. Ludwig AI validates this with numerous real-world examples. Its usage spans across various contexts, primarily in news and media, with a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. While alternatives like "felt sick" or "felt ill" exist, "was feeling unwell" offers a versatile option for expressing a general state of poor health. Therefore, based on the frequency and diversity of its usage, it can be a reliable expression to employ.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was not feeling well

This is a slightly more verbose but equally acceptable alternative.

felt sick

This alternative is more direct and commonly used in informal contexts.

felt ill

This alternative is a more formal synonym, suitable for a wider range of contexts.

felt poorly

A more colloquial way of saying "felt unwell", common in British English.

was under the weather

This is an idiomatic expression suggesting a mild and temporary illness.

had a bout of sickness

This suggests a specific instance or episode of illness.

experienced discomfort

This focuses on the physical sensation rather than a general state of illness.

was ailing

This is a more formal and less common term for being ill.

suffered from nausea

This pinpoints a specific symptom of feeling unwell.

was laid up

Implies being confined due to illness.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "was feeling unwell"?

You can use alternatives like "felt sick", "felt ill", or "was under the weather" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "was feeling unwell"?

Yes, "was feeling unwell" is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe a past state of discomfort or illness.

What's the difference between "was feeling unwell" and "was feeling sick"?

"Was feeling sick" is generally more informal and can imply nausea, while "was feeling unwell" is a broader term encompassing various symptoms of illness. You can also replace "sick" with "ill", which is more formal.

How to use "was feeling unwell" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a past state of not being in good health. For example: "Yesterday, I was feeling unwell, so I decided to stay home and rest."