chill
gb/t͡ʃˈɪl/ us/t͡ʃˈɪl/
A2
English
~ 1700
Senses
0 senses
Verb
informal
A2
action
1
To relax and stay calm
To rest or be calm and not worry.
Usage pattern:
to chill [somewhere]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this meaning with 'chill' referring to cold temperature; context usually makes it clear.
Synonyms
relax (More neutral; can be used in both formal and informal contexts.)
Antonyms
stress (Refers to feeling anxious or tense, the opposite of relaxing.)
Collocations
just chill
|chill out
|chill at home
Themes
daily life
|leisure
|emotions
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- After work, I like to chill on the couch and watch TV.
- We just chilled at the beach all afternoon.
- He told me to chill and stop worrying about it.
Learner examples
- I want to chill at home today.
- We can chill in the park.
- She likes to chill with her friends.
Noun
A2
state
2
A feeling of being cold
A sudden feeling of cold.
Synonyms
coldness (General term for low temperature.)
Antonyms
warmth (The state of being warm, opposite of coldness.)
Collocations
a chill in the air
|catch a chill
|feel a chill
Themes
weather
|health
|body
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- There was a chill in the air this morning.
- Close the window or you’ll catch a chill.
- A sudden chill ran down my spine.
Learner examples
- I feel a chill in the room.
- The wind brings a chill.
- She got a chill from the rain.
Verb
informal
B1
action
3
To calm down emotionally
To stop being angry or worried and be calm again.
Usage pattern:
to chill [someone] out / to chill out
Synonyms
calm down (More neutral; used in more contexts than 'chill'.)
Antonyms
agitate (To make someone more upset or excited.)
Collocations
chill out
|just chill
|need to chill
Themes
emotions
|conflict
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- You need to chill out before we can talk about this.
- I was so mad, but I took a walk to chill out.
- Hey, just chill—everything will be fine.
Learner examples
- Please chill out and listen.
- He needs to chill before talking.
- She told him to chill and wait.
Noun
B1
state
4
Cold feeling with shivering from illness
When you feel very cold and shake because you are sick.
Synonyms
shivering (Focuses on the physical shaking rather than the overall symptom.)
Antonyms
fever heat (The hot sensation during fever, opposite to chills.)
Collocations
fever and chills
|have chills
|shaking with chills
Themes
health
|body
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She complained of chills and a high temperature.
- The flu gave him chills and body aches.
- I felt chills running through my body.
Learner examples
- I have chills and a cough.
- The doctor asked if I had chills.
- Chills are common with the flu.
adjective
slang
B1
property
5
Relaxed and easygoing in nature
Being calm and not getting angry or stressed easily.
Synonyms
easygoing (More neutral; describes a relaxed personality without slang tone.)
Antonyms
uptight (Describes someone tense or overly concerned.)
Collocations
a chill guy
|pretty chill
|really chill vibe
Themes
personality
|emotions
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He's such a chill friend—never in a rush.
- The party had a really chill atmosphere.
- She’s pretty chill about deadlines.
Learner examples
- My brother is very chill.
- This teacher is chill with homework.
- The park has a chill feeling.
Verb
A2
action
6
To make something cold
To make something cold.
Usage pattern:
to chill [something] before use
Synonyms
cool (More common in general use; 'chill' often suggests deliberate refrigeration.)
Antonyms
heat (To make something warm or hot.)
Collocations
chill the dough
|chill before serving
|chill drinks
Themes
cooking
|food_drink
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Chill the wine for at least an hour before serving.
- The dough needs to chill in the fridge overnight.
- Chill the glasses before pouring the cocktail.
Learner examples
- Chill the water before drinking.
- I will chill the cake in the fridge.
- Please chill the milk.
Grammar
Dictionary form
chill
IPA
GB/t͡ʃˈɪl/
US/t͡ʃˈɪl/
Syllables & stress
chill (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (chill)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: chill
Noun
- Base: chill
- Plural: chills
Verb
- Base: chill
- 3rd Person Singular: chills
- Present Participle: chilling
- Past: chilled
Word family
Forms
chills
noun
chilling
verb
chilled
verb
Core family
chilly
adjective A2
Advanced or less common
chilliness
noun
Expressions
catch a chill
1/kˈæt͡ʃ ə t͡ʃˈɪl/
fixed phrase
Get sick due to cold weather exposure
To become sick because you were outside in the cold too long.
Examples
- Wear your coat—you don’t want to catch a chill.
- She caught a chill after walking home in the rain.
chill out
1/t͡ʃˈɪl ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
informal
Relax or calm down completely
To relax and stop being angry, worried, or busy.
Examples
- You need to just chill out after that long meeting.
- Let's chill out at home tonight instead of going out.
give someone chills
1/ɡˈɪv sˈʌmwˌʌn t͡ʃˈɪlz/
fixed phrase
Cause shivering from fear or excitement
To make someone feel sudden fear or excitement that makes them shake slightly.
Examples
- That horror movie gave me chills.
- Her singing always gives me chills.
send shivers/chills down someone's spine
1/sˈɛnd ʃˈɪvɚst͡ʃˈɪlz dˈaʊn sˈʌmwˌʌnz spˈaɪn/
idiom
Cause intense fear or excitement physically felt along spine
To cause someone to feel very afraid or excited, often physically along their back.
Examples
- His voice sent chills down my spine.
- The news sent shivers down her spine.
take a chill pill
1/tˈeɪk ə t͡ʃˈɪl pˈɪl/
idiom
slang
Calm down when overly excited or upset
Used to tell someone to relax when they are too angry or excited.
Examples
- Take a chill pill—you’re overreacting!
- He needs to take a chill pill and think clearly.