1
a
: a usually medicinal or dietary preparation in a small rounded mass to be swallowed whole
b
or Pill
: birth control pill
—usually used with the
2
: something repugnant or unpleasant that must be accepted or endured
3
: something resembling a pill in size or shape
4
: a disagreeable or tiresome person
pilled; pilling; pills
: to become rough with or mat into little balls
brushed woolens often pill
Synonyms
Examples of pill in a Sentence
Noun
She took a pill for her headache.
The drug is available as a pill or a liquid.
Recent Examples on the Web
Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 30 Mar. 2024
The 100% polyester microfleece lining is super soft and won’t pill after washing.
—Katrina Cossey, Parents, 12 Feb. 2024
And wool, as another example, tends to pill over time, no matter how high quality the wool is.
—Alida Nugent, Peoplemag, 8 Jan. 2024
What to Consider The fabric may pill after a few washes.
—Sarah Kester, Travel + Leisure, 3 Jan. 2024
The fabric may pill after a few washes.
—Sarah Kester, Travel + Leisure, 3 Jan. 2024
Synthetic fabrics and garments made from a blend of multiple fibers are more likely to pill, as are those made with a looser weave.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023
The lightweight Berke Hood provides ample coverage but keeps skiers especially warm, and it’s made of sweat-wicking fabric that won’t pill on you.
—Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2023
Keep in mind that, on top of not doing well during our sandpaper test, these sheets had already begun to pill after just a few washes.
—Andrea Wurzburger, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Oct. 2023
Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
Like many of her peers, Candy had reportedly been taking hormones to stimulate breast growth; those pills were probably the cause.
—Hilton Als, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Some people experience weight gain on birth control pills, but this side effect is typically temporary, minimal, and manageable.
—Laura Dorwart, Health, 8 Apr. 2024
After a telemedicine visit, pills are then prescribed and patients can pick them up and take them, all within the borders of a state where the procedure is legal.
—Abigail Brooks, NBC News, 7 Apr. 2024
Researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine won the STAT Madness All-Star award last month, voted on by attendees at the Breakthrough Summit East, for their work to create an on-demand birth control pill for men.
—Simar Bajaj, STAT, 5 Apr. 2024
Birth control pills can raise the risk for blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks.
—Maggie Fox, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
In the six-plus decades since the debut of the birth-control pill, the list of contraceptive choices for women has lengthened impressively.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2024
This includes people suffering from mental illness, who may not be able to maintain a schedule of a daily dose like the birth control pill.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024
Verb
The formula quickly absorbs into the skin, doesn’t pill, works well under makeup, and doesn’t leave a white cast.
—Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 30 Mar. 2024
The 100% polyester microfleece lining is super soft and won’t pill after washing.
—Katrina Cossey, Parents, 12 Feb. 2024
And wool, as another example, tends to pill over time, no matter how high quality the wool is.
—Alida Nugent, Peoplemag, 8 Jan. 2024
What to Consider The fabric may pill after a few washes.
—Sarah Kester, Travel + Leisure, 3 Jan. 2024
The fabric may pill after a few washes.
—Sarah Kester, Travel + Leisure, 3 Jan. 2024
Synthetic fabrics and garments made from a blend of multiple fibers are more likely to pill, as are those made with a looser weave.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023
The lightweight Berke Hood provides ample coverage but keeps skiers especially warm, and it’s made of sweat-wicking fabric that won’t pill on you.
—Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2023
Keep in mind that, on top of not doing well during our sandpaper test, these sheets had already begun to pill after just a few washes.
—Andrea Wurzburger, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Oct. 2023
Noun
Most birth control pills are up to 99% effective at preventing pregnancy if taken as instructed.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
Like many of her peers, Candy had reportedly been taking hormones to stimulate breast growth; those pills were probably the cause.
—Hilton Als, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Some people experience weight gain on birth control pills, but this side effect is typically temporary, minimal, and manageable.
—Laura Dorwart, Health, 8 Apr. 2024
After a telemedicine visit, pills are then prescribed and patients can pick them up and take them, all within the borders of a state where the procedure is legal.
—Abigail Brooks, NBC News, 7 Apr. 2024
Researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine won the STAT Madness All-Star award last month, voted on by attendees at the Breakthrough Summit East, for their work to create an on-demand birth control pill for men.
—Simar Bajaj, STAT, 5 Apr. 2024
Birth control pills can raise the risk for blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks.
—Maggie Fox, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024
In the six-plus decades since the debut of the birth-control pill, the list of contraceptive choices for women has lengthened impressively.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2024
This includes people suffering from mental illness, who may not be able to maintain a schedule of a daily dose like the birth control pill.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pill.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near pill
Cite this Entry
“Pill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pill. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pill
1 of 2 noun1
a
: medicine or a food supplement in a small rounded mass to be swallowed whole
b
often capitalized
: an oral contraceptive
—usually used with the
2
: something resembling a pill in shape or size
3
: something unpleasant that must be accepted or endured
4
: an unpleasant or tiresome person
pill
2 of 2 verb
of a garment
: to develop small balls of fiber on the surface because of wear
Medical Definition
pill
noun1
: a usually medicinal or dietary preparation in a small rounded mass to be swallowed whole
2
often capitalized
: birth control pill
—usually used with the
has been on the pill for three years
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