chillier; chilliest
1
: noticeably cold : chilling
a chilly day
2
: unpleasantly affected by cold
chilly spectators
3
: lacking warmth of feeling : unfriendly
a chilly reception
4
: tending to arouse fear or apprehension
chilly suspicions
chillily adverb
chilliness noun

Examples of chilly in a Sentence

It's a little chilly outside. You must be chilly without a coat on. They gave him a chilly reception.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Early Thursday morning, Milwaukee is expected to see a chilly low of 38 degrees. Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 23 Oct. 2024 Styling-wise, pair the latter with a retro sneaker and cashmere sweater—and on especially chilly days, layer in a cute beanie and fluffy scarf. Laura Jackson, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2024 This sporty fleece Adidas option, on sale for $20 off, is great for layering on chilly autumn days. Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2024 Amber colored, its caramel and herbal flavor and aroma will be perfect on chilly autumn days. Em Sauter, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for chilly 

Word History

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chilly was in 1570

Dictionary Entries Near chilly

Cite this Entry

“Chilly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chilly. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

chilly

adjective
chillier; chilliest
1
: noticeably cold
2
: unpleasantly affected by cold
3
: not friendly
a chilly response
chilliness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on chilly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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