fall ill
Come down with
To fall ill is to become sick.
The phrase has a slightly formal or literary quality compared to alternatives like "get sick": She fell ill during the voyage and never recovered.
The construction parallels other fall phrases marking a change of state—fall asleep, fall silent, fall pregnant.
Minor health problem
- diseaseDisorder impairing normal function
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
- virusMicroscopic infectious agent
- sicknessBodily disorder or disease
affliction · condition · disorder · malady · infirmity · pathogen · bacteria · syndrome
Easily influenced or harmed
- proneInclined or face-down
- weakenedMade less capable
- compromisedMade vulnerable to harm
- at-riskSubject to potential harm
fragile · delicate · exposed · predisposed · sensitive · immunocompromised · elderly · malnourished
Elevated body temperature
- nauseaPre-vomiting stomach discomfort
- malaiseDiffuse, sourceless discomfort
- fatigueWeariness from prolonged exertion
- lethargyAbnormal drowsiness and apathy
weakness · chills · aches · dizziness · vomiting · cough · congestion · headache
Sending of information
- epidemicWidespread disease occurrence
- pandemicGlobal disease outbreak
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
- spreadTo distribute widely
quarantine · contagious · infectious · incubation · carrier · vector · immunity · exposure
Reverse in progress
- adversitySevere difficulty or suffering
- hardshipSuffering from difficult circumstances
- bedriddenUnable to leave mattress
- incapacitatedMade unable to act
sidelined · housebound · laid up · out of commission · struck down · stricken · unfortunate · untimely
Post-illness healing phase
- healingRestoration of health
- recuperationGradual return to health
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- remissionTemporary disease absence
rest · treatment · therapy · medication · nursing · bedrest · recovery · mend
ailment
Minor health problem
- diseaseDisorder impairing normal function
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
- virusMicroscopic infectious agent
sickness · affliction · condition · disorder · malady · infirmity · pathogen · bacteria · syndrome · complaint
susceptible
Easily influenced or harmed
- proneInclined or face-down
- weakenedMade less capable
- compromisedMade vulnerable to harm
at-risk · fragile · delicate · exposed · predisposed · sensitive · immunocompromised · elderly · malnourished · run-down
fever
Elevated body temperature
- nauseaPre-vomiting stomach discomfort
- malaiseDiffuse, sourceless discomfort
- fatigueWeariness from prolonged exertion
lethargy · weakness · chills · aches · dizziness · vomiting · cough · congestion · headache · discomfort
transmission
Sending of information
- epidemicWidespread disease occurrence
- pandemicGlobal disease outbreak
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
spread · quarantine · contagious · infectious · incubation · carrier · vector · immunity · exposure · contamination
setback
Reverse in progress
- adversitySevere difficulty or suffering
- hardshipSuffering from difficult circumstances
- bedriddenUnable to leave mattress
incapacitated · sidelined · housebound · laid up · out of commission · struck down · stricken · unfortunate · untimely · debilitated
convalescence
Post-illness healing phase
- healingRestoration of health
- recuperationGradual return to health
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
remission · rest · treatment · therapy · medication · nursing · bedrest · recovery · mend · restoration
- falling illget sick, sicken, come down with, catch cold
fall illrecover
Regain health or possession
get well · get better · recuperate · heal · convalesce
fall, ill, illness, fell, fallen, falling, unwell, falls, ailing