Ail

To cause distress, discomfort, or suffering; to trouble or afflict. This verb encompasses physical ailments (illness, disease), as well as emotional or mental distress. It suggests a state of being unwell or experiencing a negative condition that diminishes well-being. The cause of the 'ailing' can be internal or external, chronic or acute, and the severity of the ailment can vary greatly. 'Ailing' can be used to describe both people and things, like businesses or economies, indicating a decline or problem that needs attention. The core meaning revolves around a state of being 'not right' or experiencing a negative impact, whether physical, mental, or metaphorical.

Ail meaning with examples

• The sudden flu bug began to ail many people in the office, keeping them home and leading to productivity drops across the organization as the virus spread. He took extra care to avoid the sick.
• Financial troubles began to ail the family after the father lost his job, causing them to dip into their savings and causing high levels of stress and concern throughout the household, which worried the child.
• The harsh criticism from the coach continued to ail the young athlete's confidence, and ultimately, he felt very sad about the whole situation and the fact that he couldn't play in any of the competitions.
• Years of unhealthy eating began to ail the grandfather, leading to increased doctor's visits and a change in his diet and lifestyle as he grew older and continued to make poor choices.
• The old, outdated infrastructure began to ail the city's public services, leading to frequent disruptions in power, water, and transportation, which upset the residents with the constant outages and problems.