feel sick

Meaning

'Feel sick' means to experience physical illness, discomfort, or nausea. In British English, it often specifically means feeling like you might vomit, while in American English, it can mean general illness (like having a cold or stomach ache). It is a simple, direct way to tell someone you are unwell.

Examples

• I started to feel sick after eating that seafood last night.

  I started to feel sick after eating that seafood last night.

• If you feel sick, you should go home and rest.

  If you feel sick, you should go home and rest.

• She didn't come to school today because she was feeling sick.

  She didn't come to school today because she was feeling sick.

• I always feel sick when I try to read in a moving car.

  I always feel sick when I try to read in a moving car.

• He woke up feeling sick, with a sore throat and a headache.

  He woke up feeling sick, with a sore throat and a headache.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I feel illness today, so I cannot work.

  ✓ I feel sick today, so I cannot work.

  'Illness' is a noun. We must use the adjective 'sick' after the linking verb 'feel'.

• ✗ The bad smell made me feel badly.

  ✓ The bad smell made me feel sick.

  'Feel badly' means feeling regret or guilt. To express physical illness or nausea, use 'feel sick' or 'feel bad'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I think I ate too much candy; I ___ .

  💡 Experiencing stomach discomfort or nausea.

  Show answer

  feel sick

• Yesterday she ___ , so she stayed in bed all day.

  💡 Past tense of 'feel sick'.

  Show answer

  felt sick