ailing

adjective

ail·​ing ˈā-liŋ How to pronounce ailing (audio)
: having or suffering from an illness or injury
providing care for his ailing mother
trying to rest her ailing knee/back
a person in ailing health
often used figuratively
an ailing company
an ailing economy

Examples of ailing in a Sentence

when his ailing wife had to go to a nursing home, he visited her every day he was ailing from some sort of infection in his eye that made it look all red and puffy
Recent Examples on the Web Wildlife officials say that anyone finding an ailing pelican should not touch or try to feed them. Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2024 Based on a true story reported by Howard Reich in the Chicago Tribune about an ailing Vietnam War vet who inherits a priceless collection of art looted by the Nazis, the production plays May 22 at the Presidio Theatre. Andrew Gilbert, The Mercury News, 3 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for ailing 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ailing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of ail entry 1

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ailing was in 1598

Dictionary Entries Near ailing

Cite this Entry

“Ailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ailing. Accessed 31 May. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on ailing

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