chilly
gb/t͡ʃˈɪli/ us/t͡ʃˈɪli/
A2
English
~ 9300
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
uncomfortably but not severely cold
A little too cold in a way that does not feel nice, especially in the air or in a room.
Usage pattern:
[something] is chilly; [someone] feels chilly
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "chilly" with "chili" (the spicy food or pepper), which are different words with different spellings. They may also use "chilly" for extremely low, freezing temperatures; in those cases, words like "freezing" or "icy" are more natural. Another confusion is between "chilly" and "chill"; "chilly" is mainly an adjective for temperature, while "chill" is more often a noun or verb.
Synonyms
cool (Suggests a lower temperature but not always uncomfortable; 'chilly' usually feels less pleasant.)
|
cold (Stronger and more general; can refer to much lower, even painful temperatures compared to 'chilly'.)
|
nippy (Informal; often used for weather that feels sharply, quickly cold.)
Antonyms
warm (Describes a higher, comfortable temperature instead of an uncomfortably cool one.)
|
cosy (Emphasizes comfortable, pleasant warmth, often indoors, opposite of a chilly environment.)
Collocations
chilly morning
|chilly evening
|chilly wind
|chilly room
|a bit chilly
|feel chilly
Themes
weather
|daily life
|nature
|daily_life
Examples
- It gets quite chilly in the office after 5 p.m.
- The evenings are starting to feel chilly now that autumn has arrived.
- Take a jacket; it might be chilly by the time we come home.
- We had a picnic, but a chilly wind made us leave early.
- She wrapped a blanket around her shoulders because the room was a bit chilly.
Learner examples
- It is chilly outside today.
- I feel chilly, so I will put on a sweater.
- The room was chilly, and everyone kept their coats on.
- The wind is chilly near the sea.
- The nights can be chilly in the mountains.
adjective
B2
property
2
emotionally cold or unfriendly
Not friendly or warm in the way you speak or act to someone.
Usage pattern:
[someone] gives [someone] a chilly [reaction]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "chilly" here means that a person is relaxed or "cool" in a positive way. In this emotional sense, "chilly" is negative and means not friendly or warm. It is also more about behavior or attitude in a situation (a chilly reply, a chilly reception) than about a basic personality trait.
Synonyms
frosty (Very similar; often a bit stronger and more clearly disapproving than "chilly.")
|
distant (Focuses on emotional or social distance rather than temperature; can sound slightly more formal or psychological.)
|
cold (More general and often stronger; can suggest a lack of human feeling, not just politeness without warmth.)
Antonyms
warm (Describes friendly and kind behavior, the opposite of emotionally cold or chilly behavior.)
|
welcoming (Emphasizes making someone feel accepted and comfortable, the opposite of a chilly reception.)
|
friendly (General opposite for a person's manner or attitude toward others.)
Collocations
chilly reception
|chilly response
|chilly silence
|chilly manner
|chilly tone
|chilly relationship
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|social
|communication
Examples
- The proposal received a chilly reception from the board.
- He gave her a chilly nod and walked away without a word.
- There was a chilly silence in the room after his comment.
- Her email was polite but noticeably chilly in tone.
- Relations between the two countries have grown increasingly chilly in recent years.
Learner examples
- My boss gave a chilly answer to my idea.
- She was nice, but her smile felt a little chilly.
- He said hello, but his voice was chilly.
- The team got a chilly reception from the fans.
- After the argument, there was a chilly silence at dinner.
Grammar
Dictionary form
chilly
IPA
GB/t͡ʃˈɪli/
US/t͡ʃˈɪli/
Syllables & stress
chilly (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (chilly)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: chilly
- Comparative: chillier
- Superlative: chilliest
Word family
Forms
chillier
adjective
chilliest
adjective
Core family
chill
noun A2
Related words
chilled
adjective
chilling
adjective
Advanced or less common
chilliness
noun
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.