Synonyms

ail

American

[eyl] / eɪl /

verb (used with object)

to cause pain, uneasiness, or trouble to.

Inside our own bodies lies the most powerful cure for what ails us—our immune systems.
He thinks lowering taxes is the answer to all that ails our economy.

Synonyms:

distress, annoy, bother

verb (used without object)

to be unwell; feel pain; be ill.

He's been ailing for some time.

ail British

/ eɪl /

verb

(tr) to trouble; afflict
(intr) to feel unwell

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of ail

before 950; Middle English ail, eilen, Old English eglan to afflict (cognate with Middle Low German egelen annoy, Gothic -agljan ), derivative of egle painful; akin to Gothic agls shameful, Sanskrit aghám evil, pain

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

You say your ailing, aging relative is no longer your problem and that they have acted impulsively and shown little gratitude for your past help.

From MarketWatch

For countries like Germany, the “Build With Ukraine” initiative allows them to couple state subsidies with Ukrainian innovation, revitalizing sluggish economies and retooling ailing factories.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related: ‘I am fearful’: My ailing relative is being forced into assisted living.

From MarketWatch

Enthusiastic about the warming weather, Commander Kane sent seven ailing crew members out to explore and hunt for fresh meat.

From Literature

Maybe Rice, who has been out since late November, would have elevated the Trojans’ ailing offense.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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