Chill out meaning
Chill out means to relax and do nothing much. It can also mean to stop being angry, worried or nervous.
chill out
chill out · chilled · chilling
We just chilled out at home and watched films.
Chill out meanings and examples
2 meanings, each with its own CEFR level. A level marked ~ is our estimate: Oxford and Cambridge give none for that meaning.
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1
Relax and do nothing much
chill out
- We just chilled out at home and watched films.
- After exams I’m going to chill out at the beach.
- Do you want to go out, or chill out here?
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2
Stop being angry, worried or nervous
chill out
- Chill out! We’ve still got plenty of time.
- My dad needs to chill out about my grades.
- She didn’t chill out until the plane landed.
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
Use chill out in real conversations
- Learn new words with picture cards
- Talk with Felix, an AI tutor, about the things you love
- Short lessons at your level, a few minutes a day
Is chill out separable?
Chill out has no object. You just chill out, or chill out at a place: chill out at the park. Often people just say chill: We’re just chilling.
It is informal. Use it with friends, not in a job interview or formal email. Chill out! to an angry person can sound rude.
Verb tenses for chill out
| Present | I chill out · she chills out |
|---|---|
| Past | chilled out |
| Present perfect | have chilled out |
| -ing form | chilling out |
Common mistakes with chill out
What learners often say, and what to say instead.
Wrong: Let’s chill out us this weekend.
Right: Let’s chill out this weekend.
Chill out has no object.
Wrong: I was chilling out in the sofa all day.
Right: I was chilling out on the sofa all day.
You sit on a sofa, not in it.
Wrong: Dear Sir, I would like to chill out during my leave.
Right: Dear Sir, I would like to rest during my leave.
Chill out is too informal for a formal letter.
Synonyms and opposites of chill out
Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.
Similar
- calm downstop being upset; more neutral
- hang outspend relaxed time with friends
- unwindrelax after work or stress, a bit more formal
Opposite
- freak outsuddenly become very worried, scared or angry
- stress outbecome very worried and tense
Chill out quiz
Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1I worked hard all week, so on Sunday I just ___ at home.
Chill out means relax.
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2Choose the right sentence.
Chill out takes no object; add the place after it.
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3“Chill out, it’s just a game!” What does the speaker want?
Here chill out means stop being upset.
Find your level
The phrasal verbs test adapts as you answer, from A2 to C1, and shows which ones you miss.
- get outA2leave a car, a room or a building
- take outA2remove something from a bag, a box, a pocket or a place
- put outB1stop a fire, a cigarette or a light from burning or shining
- go outA1leave your home to do something fun
- come outB1become available to buy, watch or read, like a book or film
- look outB1be careful, because something bad may happen
- give outB1give something to each of a number of people
- turn outB2happen or end in a particular way
Chill out FAQ
Questions people ask about chill out.
Is chill out slang?
It is informal, but very common and not rude in a normal chat. In formal writing, say relax or rest.
What is the difference between chill and chill out?
They mean the same in speech. Chill alone is even more informal: We’re just chilling. Chill also means make cold: Chill the drinks.
What does chill-out music mean?
It is slow, soft music for relaxing, often electronic. The hyphen shows it is used as an adjective.
Use chill out in real conversations
In Slova you learn new words with picture cards, then use them when you talk about the things you love. A few minutes a day, at your level.