was ill with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was ill with" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe someone's condition or illness. An example sentence could be: "She was ill with the flu and had to stay home from work." This sentence indicates that the person was experiencing the flu and as a result, had to miss work.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I was ill with laughing.

The Guardian

So was her mother, though she was ill with AIDS.

The New York Times - Magazine

The senior wife was ill with opium addiction.

The Economist

This happened when he was ill with a sinus infection and strep throat in February 2010.

Harvard University

His wife was ill with Alzheimer's disease, his mind occupied by his own academic research.

The New York Times

Lebanon was playing without its American coach, Paul Coughter, who was ill with the flu.

The New York Times - Sports

SAMUEL N. COLE, COLLEGE HEAD, DIES; President of Wheaton Was Ill With Pneumonia Only.a Few Days.

The New York Times

Normally effusive, he was ill with a fever and visibly tired.

The New York Times

I had attempted suicide multiple times and was ill with anorexia.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I heard he was ill with throat cancer and, ironically, under doctor's care.

The Guardian

His father was ill with cancer, he was breaking up with a girlfriend.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was ill with", ensure the specific illness is clearly stated to provide context and avoid ambiguity. For example, "He was ill with the flu" is clearer than "He was ill with something."

Common error

Avoid using overly vague terms when describing the illness. Instead of saying someone "was ill with a bug", specify the actual illness, such as "the flu" or "a stomach virus".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was ill with" functions as a predicate adjective describing the state of being unwell and specifying the cause of the illness. Ludwig examples confirm its usage in describing various medical conditions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

12%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was ill with" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to describe someone's state of being unwell due to a specific illness. According to Ludwig, it is commonly found in news and media, academic writing, and encyclopedias, indicating its broad applicability. While semantically similar phrases such as "suffered from" and "stricken with" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. When using this phrase, be clear about the illness to avoid ambiguity. Overall, "was ill with" is a reliable and effective way to communicate a person's health condition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

contracted

Implies acquiring a disease or illness.

was diagnosed with

Focuses on the medical diagnosis of a specific condition.

suffered from

Focuses on the experience of enduring something unpleasant, like an illness.

stricken with

Indicates a sudden and severe onset of illness.

afflicted with

Implies a more severe or long-lasting condition.

was unwell due to

Specifies that general state of not being well is a consequence of a specific factor.

battled with

Suggests a struggle or ongoing fight against an illness.

struggled with

Emphasizes the difficulty and effort involved in dealing with an illness.

affected by

General term for being influenced by something, including an illness.

diagnosed with

Highlights the medical identification of a disease.

FAQs

How can I use "was ill with" in a sentence?

You can use "was ill with" to describe someone's condition, specifying the illness they had. For example, "She was ill with the measles last month."

What's a more formal way to say "was ill with"?

In more formal contexts, you could use phrases like "suffered from" or "was afflicted with". For example, instead of "He was ill with pneumonia", you could say "He suffered from pneumonia" or "He was afflicted with pneumonia".

What can I say instead of "was ill with" in a casual conversation?

In casual conversations, you can use alternatives like /s/was+sick+with, /s/had, or /s/came+down+with depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "became ill with" or should I always use "was ill with"?

Both "became ill with" and "was ill with" are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Became ill with" describes the onset of an illness, while "was ill with" describes the state of being ill. For example, "He became ill with a cold yesterday" and "He was ill with a cold all week" are both correct.