chilly

adjective

ˈchi-lē 

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

ˈchi-lə-lē 

adverb

chilliness

ˈchi-lē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of chilly

• chilling
• chill
• bleak
• bitter
• cold
• frigid
• brisk
• icy
• freezing

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

On a chilly Monday afternoon ahead of a spring snowstorm, both the Mets and the Colorado Rockies had some cool bats for the first five innings of play. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 5 May 2026

After a nice, but chilly weekend, temperatures are about to rebound to spring and even summer-like levels. —Steven Sosna, CBS News, 4 May 2026

For the first few hundred million years, the vast cosmic gas between galaxies was primarily a chilly, dense affair. —Paul Sutter, Space.com, 4 May 2026

Elevated Fleece On a chilly day, a sailboat, or in strong air conditioning, Mom wants to be warm and comfortable without sacrificing style. —Amanda Eyre Ward, Travel + Leisure, 2 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for chilly

• billie
• billy
• chilli
• dilly
• filly
• frilly
• gillie
• gilly
• hilly
• lily
• philly
• really

Kids Definition

chilly

adjective

ˈchil-ē 

chillier; chilliest

1

: noticeably cold

2

: unpleasantly affected by cold

3

: not friendly

a chilly response

chilliness noun