bill

BIL/bɪl/

Pluralbills

Verbbills, billing, billed

25 meanings of bill

Practice

1
amount duenouncountable
A piece of paper or message that shows how much you must pay for something.
The waiter brought us the bill after dinner.
Mom pays the electric bill at the start of every month.
UsagePay a bill. In US restaurants, people ask for the check.
Similarinvoice, account
Note
2
proposed lawnouncountable
A plan for a new law that lawmakers vote on.
Like a first draft of a school paper that can still be changed before it is final.
Congress will vote on the bill next week.
The new bill would make school lunches free for everyone.
UsageA lawmaker introduces a bill, and lawmakers pass it.
Similarmeasure
Note
3
paper moneynounCanadaUScountable
A piece of paper money, like a five-dollar or twenty-dollar bill.
She paid with a ten-dollar bill and got change back.
He found a crumpled bill in his coat pocket.
UsageSay a five-dollar bill. In Britain, people say note.
Similarnote, banknote, greenback
Note
4
ask for paymentverbtransitive
To ask someone to pay for something, usually by sending them a note of the cost.
The plumber will bill you after the work is done.
The dentist billed my family for two visits.
UsageBill someone for a job or service.
Similarcharge
5
beaknouncountable
A bird's beak, especially one that is small or flat.
The duck scooped up water with its wide, flat bill.
A hummingbird's long, thin bill reaches deep into flowers.
Similarbeak, neb
Note
6
advertiseverbtransitive
To tell people about a show or event using posters or ads.
Posters bill the circus as fun for the whole family.
The theater billed the concert as the event of the summer.
UsageOften billed as: the show was billed as the best of the year.
Note
7
event lineupnouncountable
A group of things, like the acts in a show, offered together as one program.
Three local bands shared the bill at Saturday's show.
The comedy night's bill includes five different performers.
UsageThe band that tops the bill is the main act.
Similarlineup, program, card
8
nouncountable
A written list or official paper, now used mostly in fixed phrases like 'bill of sale'.
The driver signed the bill of lading when the boxes arrived.
The used car came with a signed bill of sale.
UsageA clean bill of health means nothing is wrong.
Note

Less common meanings

9
cap brimnouncountable
The stiff front part of a cap that keeps sun out of your eyes.
He pulled the bill of his cap down to block the sun.
Her new baseball cap has a curved bill.
Similarbrim
10
posternouncountable
A printed paper that tells people about a show, sale, or event.
A sign on the old brick wall said, "Post no bills."
A bright bill pasted on the fence told everyone about the circus.
UsageToday people say poster or flyer.
Similarposter, flyer, notice, handbill, circular
Note
11
nounslangCanadaUScountable
Slang for one hundred dollars or one hundred pounds.
Those concert tickets cost him a bill each.
She saved up three bills for the new phone.
UsageSay two bills for two hundred.
Note
12
promise to paynouncountable
A signed paper that promises to pay money at a later time or when asked.
The merchant signed a bill promising to pay the full amount in ninety days.
The merchant signed a bill promising to pay for the cloth in ninety days.
Similarnote
Note
13
pruning toolnouncountable
A cutting tool with a curved, hooked blade on a handle, used for trimming plants and small branches.
She cut back the thick bushes with a bill.
Grandpa keeps his old bill sharp for clearing brambles.
Similarbillhook, hedgebill
14
pole weaponnouncountable
A weapon from long ago with a heavy, hooked blade on a long pole.
The guard carried a bill as he walked along the castle wall.
The soldiers raised their bills when the riders came closer.
Similarpolearm
Note
15
roll a jointverbslangUKtransitive or intransitive
To roll a cigarette with marijuana in it.
He billed a joint on the back step.
Wait here while I bill a joint.
UsageSay bill a spliff, or bill up.
Similarroll
Note
16
caressverbintransitive
To touch beaks together the way doves do, or to kiss and hug gently.
Two doves billed on the fence outside the kitchen window.
My aunt and uncle still bill and coo at the dinner table after thirty years together.
UsageUsed in bill and coo, about a loving couple.
Similarnuzzle
Note
17
verbobsolete
To pick at something with the beak, like a bird eating seeds.
Note
18
nounrare
A piece of land that sticks out into the sea, shaped like a bird's beak.
19
noun
A written complaint to a court saying what wrong someone has done.
20
noun
A soldier of long ago who fought with a bill, a blade on a long pole.
21
nounobsolete
A heavy tool with a pointed head, used for breaking up hard ground.
22
noun
The sharp tip at the end of one arm of a ship's anchor.
23
verbrare
To dig or chop something using a bill, a tool with a hooked blade.
24
nounUK
At one famous British school, a list of students who broke the rules and will be punished.
25
nounobsolete
The deep booming sound made by a bittern, a kind of marsh bird.
The bittern's hollow bill was heard.
1793, William Wordsworth, An Evening Walk

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of bill apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–4, 6–8, 10–12

It came through Old French from Latin bulla, meaning a seal or a sealed document.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

Bill came through Old French from Latin bulla. fr.wiktionary.org
Bulla meant a seal or a sealed document in Medieval Latin. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 5, 9, 16–17

From Old English bile, meaning a bird's beak. Its origin is unknown.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

Bill descends from Old English bile, meaning a bird's beak. en.wiktionary.org
The further origin is unknown. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 13–14

From Old English bil, meaning a hooked point or curved sword. It goes back to a Proto-Germanic word for axe or blade.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

Bill derives from Old English bil, meaning a hooked point or curved sword. en.wiktionary.org
The Old English word derives from a Proto-Germanic word meaning axe or blade. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 15

It comes from a pronunciation spelling of the word build.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 1 fact

Bill originated as a pronunciation spelling of build. en.wiktionary.org