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
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
Jacob Robinson, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025
Several praised the smart design, including pockets that can store small items like your phone and keys comfortably, and the soft material that didn’t get scratchy or pill after several machine washes.
—Alyssa Brascia, People.com, 25 Jan. 2025
Bruce Japsen, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Whether the pills or other drugs were a factor won't be known until toxicology tests are completed in the coming weeks.
—Susan Montoya Bryan, arkansasonline.com, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pill
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Verb
Poison pills: In 2006, those tag-happy Seahawks used a transition tag on All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson.
—Jacob Robinson, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025
Several praised the smart design, including pockets that can store small items like your phone and keys comfortably, and the soft material that didn’t get scratchy or pill after several machine washes.
—Alyssa Brascia, People.com, 25 Jan. 2025
Noun
Such medicines are more complicated than pills and capsules picked up at the corner drugstore and often require specialized administration, refrigeration, packaging and patient instructions.
—Bruce Japsen, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Whether the pills or other drugs were a factor won't be known until toxicology tests are completed in the coming weeks.
—Susan Montoya Bryan, arkansasonline.com, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pill
Cite this Entry
“Pill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pill. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
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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