English Dictionary | Thesaurus | Translator | COBUILD Grammar Patterns | Scrabble | Blog
  • English
  • This page in
    American
    Italiano
    Deutsch
    Español
    Português
    हिंदी
    简体中文
| Sign Up | Log In
 
English
Menu
English Dictionary Thesaurus Translator Grammar Scrabble Blog
  • English
  • This page in
    American
    Italiano
    Deutsch
    Español
    Português
    हिंदी
    简体中文
Sign Up Log In

Definition of 'bill'

Word Frequency

bill

(bɪl )
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense bills , present participle billing , past tense, past participle billed
1. countable noun
A bill is a written statement of money that you owe for goods or services.
They couldn't afford to pay the bills.
He paid his bill for the newspapers promptly. [+ for]
...phone bills.
account
Synonyms: charges, rate, costs, score   More Synonyms of bill
2. verb [no cont]
If you bill someone for goods or services you have provided them with, you give or send them a bill stating how much money they owe you for these goods or services.
Are you going to bill me for this? [VERB noun + for]
[Also VERB noun]
Synonyms: charge, debit, invoice, send a statement to   More Synonyms of bill
3. singular noun
The bill in a restaurant is a piece of paper on which the price of the meal you have just eaten is written and which you are given before you pay.
[British]regional note:   in AM, use check
4. countable noun
A bill is a piece of paper money.
[US]
...a large quantity of U.S. dollar bills.
regional note:   in BRIT, use note
Synonyms: banknote, green-back [US], note   More Synonyms of bill
5. countable noun [usually singular]
In government, a bill is a formal statement of a proposed new law that is discussed and then voted on.
This is the toughest crime bill that Congress has passed in a decade.
The bill was approved by a large majority.
Synonyms: act of parliament, measure, proposal, piece of legislation   More Synonyms of bill
6. singular noun
The bill of a show or concert is a list of the entertainers who will take part in it.
7. verb [usually passive]
If someone is billed to appear in a particular show, it has been advertised that they are going to be in it.
She was billed to play the Red Queen in Snow White. [be VERB-ed to-infinitive]
billing   uncountable noun
...their quarrels over star billing.
8. verb
If you bill a person or event as a particular thing, you advertise them in a way that makes people think they have particular qualities or abilities.
They bill it as Britain's most exciting museum. [VERB noun + as]
Synonyms: advertise, post, announce, push [informal]   More Synonyms of bill
9. countable noun
A bird's bill is its beak.
10.  See also Private Member's Bill
11. 
fit the bill
12. 
to foot the bill
13. 
a clean bill of health
More Synonyms of bill
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Video: pronunciation of 'bill'

Word Frequency

bill in British 1

(bɪl )
noun
1. 
money owed for goods or services supplied
an electricity bill
2. 
a written or printed account or statement of money owed
3. mainly British
such an account for food and drink in a restaurant, hotel, etc
. Usual US and Canadian word: check
4. 
any printed or written list of items, events, etc, such as a theatre programme
who's on the bill tonight?
5.  fit the bill
6. 
a statute in draft, before it becomes law
7. 
a printed notice or advertisement; poster
8. US and Canadian
a piece of paper money; note
9.  an obsolete name for promissory note
10. law bill of indictment
11.  bill of exchange
12.  bill of fare
13. archaic
any document
verb (transitive)
14. 
to send or present an account for payment to (a person)
15. 
to enter (items, goods, etc) on an account or statement
16. 
to advertise by posters
17. 
to schedule as a future programme
the play is billed for next week
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin of 'bill'
C14: from Anglo-Latin billa, alteration of Late Latin bulla document, bull3
Word Frequency

bill in British 2

(bɪl )
noun
1. 
the mouthpart of a bird, consisting of projecting jaws covered with a horny sheath; beak. It varies in shape and size according to the type of food eaten and may also be used as a weapon
2. 
any beaklike mouthpart in other animals
3. 
a narrow promontory
Portland Bill
4. nautical
the pointed tip of the fluke of an anchor
verb (intransitive)
5. 
(of birds, esp doves) to touch bills together
6. 
(of lovers) to kiss and whisper amorously
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin of 'bill'
Old English bile; related to bill bill3
Word Frequency

bill in British 3

(bɪl )
noun
1. 
a pike or halberd with a narrow hooked blade
2.  short for billhook
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin of 'bill'
Old English bill sword, related to Old Norse bīldr instrument used in blood-letting, Old High German bil pickaxe
Word Frequency

bill in British 4

(bɪl )
noun
ornithology another word for boom1 (sense 4)
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin of 'bill'
C18: from dialect beel bell2 (vb)
Word Frequency

Bill in American

(bɪl ; bil)
noun
a masculine name
see also William1
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency

bill in American 1

(bɪl ; bil)
noun
1. 
a statement, usually itemized, of charges for goods or services; invoice
2. 
a statement or list, as a menu, theater program, ship's roster, etc.
3. 
a poster or handbill, esp. one announcing a circus, show, etc.
4. 
the entertainment offered in a theater
5. 
a draft of a law proposed to a lawmaking body
6. 
a bill of exchange
7. 
any promissory note
8.  US
a. 
a bank note or piece of paper money
b.  Slang
a hundred dollars or a hundred-dollar bill
9.  Obsolete
a written document, esp. one with a seal
10.  Law
a written declaration of charges or complaints filed in a legal action
verb transitive
11. 
to make out a bill of (items); list
12. 
to present a statement of charges to
13. 
a. 
to advertise by bills or posters
b. 
to book or engage (a performer or performance)
14. 
to post bills or placards throughout (a town, etc.)
15. 
to book for shipping
Idioms:
fill the bill
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
billable (ˈbillable)
  adjective
Word origin of 'bill'
ME bille < Anglo-L billa, altered < ML bulla, sealed document < L, knob, bubble: see boil1
Word Frequency

bill in American 2

(bɪl ; bil)
noun
1. 
the horny jaws of a bird, usually projecting to a point; beak
2. 
a beaklike mouth part, as of a turtle
3. 
the point of an anchor fluke
4.  US
the peak, or visor, of a cap
verb intransitive
5. 
to touch bills together
6. 
to caress someone lovingly
now only in the phrase bill and coo, to kiss, talk softly, etc. in a loving way
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin of 'bill'
ME & OE bile < IE base *bhei-, to strike
Word Frequency

bill in American 3

(bɪl ; bil)
noun
1. 
a medieval weapon having a hook-shaped blade with a spike at the back, mounted on a long staff
2. 
billhook
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin of 'bill'
ME bil < OE bill: for IE base see bill2
Word Frequency

bill in Accounting 1

(bɪl)
Word forms: (regular plural) bills
noun
(Accounting: Commerce)
A bill is a request for payment by a seller for goods or services provided.
The company could no longer afford to pay their bills.
The group acquires companies and pays the takeover bill by selling the target's assets.
A bill is a request for payment by a seller for goods or services provided.
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency

bill in Accounting 2

(bɪl)
Word forms: (present) bills, (past) billed, (perfect) billed, (progressive) billing
verb
(Accounting: Commerce)
If you bill someone for goods or services, you send them a bill stating how much money they owe you.
Are you going to bill me for this?
The company deliberately billed us for storage of items that have been out of the company's hands for up to three months.
If you bill someone for goods or services, you send them a bill stating how much money they owe you.
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency

bill in Retail 1

(bɪl)
Word forms: (regular plural) bills
noun
(Retail: Supplier accounts)
A bill is a request for payment by a seller for goods or services provided.
The company could no longer afford to pay their bills.
If any violation of the shipping instructions causes an increase in shipping charges paid by the retailer, the resulting increased charge will be deducted from the bill.
A bill is a request for payment by a seller for goods or services provided.
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency

bill in Retail 2

(bɪl)
Word forms: (present) bills, (past) billed, (perfect) billed, (progressive) billing
verb
(Retail: Supplier accounts)
If you bill someone for goods or services, you send them a bill stating how much money they owe you.
Are you going to bill me for this?
The company billed us for storage of items that have been out of the company's hands for three months.
If you bill someone for goods or services, you send them a bill stating how much money they owe you.
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Example sentences containing 'bill'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
These fluffy sliders with sequin pineapples on them fit the bill perfectly. The Sun (2017)Or lunch where the first person to use their phone pays the whole bill? Times, Sunday Times (2016)But it is not just grocery bills that have been rising. Times, Sunday Times (2017)There are many ways to improve the deals you get on your bills or accounts and it can be hard to prioritise. Times, Sunday Times (2017)Until it appeared on the bill in all its 10 glory. Times, Sunday Times (2016)The fees paid by the loser are substantially reduced and the government bill is expected to be in the low tens of thousands. Times, Sunday Times (2017)Once individual hospitals have worked out whom to charge and how much, the first stage is sending the bill. Times, Sunday Times (2016)I cover the mortgage, bills and food with my wages but have very little left over. The Sun (2016)There are no parents to keep an eye on eating, drinking and paying bills, and many students struggle to make new friends. Times, Sunday Times (2016)There's no way I can afford this bill. The Sun (2016)This would apply to your normal bills and not just if it was lost or stolen. The Sun (2015)Three bank employees plan to steal damaged dollar bills that are supposed to be shredded. The Sun (2011)Details of utility bills began appearing on credit reports last year. Times, Sunday Times (2014)Remind your landlord how you fit the bill and highlight the advantages of keeping you. Times, Sunday Times (2008)They have bills to pay and mouths to feed. Times, Sunday Times (2006)Orange has been sending her bills to my house for years. Times, Sunday Times (2012)The bill would also mean waste being used for animal feed or compost. The Sun (2015)Apple points to a range of practical obstacles to complying with the draft bill. Times, Sunday Times (2015)They huddled under duvets in winter as they could not afford heating bills. The Sun (2009)We are short on money and struggling to pay bills and buy food. The Sun (2011)Thoughts of tax bills or the price of petrol should do the trick. Times, Sunday Times (2008)We dread to think what his drinks expenses bill will be! The Sun (2007)The insurer pays out to cover the cost of mortgage payments and other bills after a diagnosis. Times, Sunday Times (2010)How will this affect the company accounts and tax bill? Times, Sunday Times (2014)Or are you looking at a large refund bill? Times, Sunday Times (2014)It would be able to use this to reduce future bills. Times, Sunday Times (2012)He puts a twenty dollar bill on the table. Christianity Today (2000)Charges will appear on your bill as they would while roaming. The Sun (2015)It is possible to save hundreds of pounds on your annual food bills with just a few changes. Times, Sunday Times (2010)Our manager apologised unreservedly to the family at the time and also waived the meal bill as a gesture of goodwill. Times, Sunday Times (2015)We need more transparency and scrutiny of all parts of the bill, including network charges. Times, Sunday Times (2014)So after a long haul, the bill should become law by this time next year. Times, Sunday Times (2007)I pieced the whole bill together and it showed she owes a lot of money. The Sun (2011)

Word Lists

sword

Trends of 'bill'

Very Common. bill is one of the 4000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

View usage for:

Translations for 'bill'

British English: bill /bɪl/ NOUN
account A bill is a written statement of money that you owe for goods or services.
He paid his bill for the newspapers.
  • American English: bill account
  • Arabic: فاتُورَة
  • Brazilian Portuguese: conta
  • Chinese: 帐单
  • Croatian: račun
  • Czech: účet k zaplacení
  • Danish: regning
  • Dutch: rekening factuur
  • European Spanish: cuenta factura
  • Finnish: lasku maksettava
  • French: note addition
  • German: Rechnung
  • Greek: λογαριασμός
  • Italian: conto
  • Japanese: 請求書
  • Korean: 계산서
  • Norwegian: regning
  • Polish: rachunek
  • European Portuguese: conta
  • Romanian: factură
  • Russian: счет финансовый документ
  • Spanish: cuenta factura
  • Swedish: räkning
  • Thai: ใบแจ้งหนี้
  • Turkish: hesap
  • Ukrainian: рахунок
  • Vietnamese: hóa đơn
British English: bill /bɪl/ NOUN
in parliament In parliament, a bill is a formal statement of a proposed new law that is discussed and then voted on.
...the toughest crime bill that has been passed in a decade.
  • American English: bill legislation
  • Arabic: مَشْرُوع قانون
  • Brazilian Portuguese: projeto de lei
  • Chinese: 议案
  • Croatian: prijedlog zakona
  • Czech: návrh zákona
  • Danish: lovforslag
  • Dutch: wetsontwerp
  • European Spanish: proyecto de ley
  • Finnish: lakiesitys
  • French: projet de loi
  • German: Gesetzentwurf
  • Greek: νομοσχέδιο
  • Italian: progetto di legge
  • Japanese: 法案 legislation
  • Korean: 법안
  • Norwegian: lovforslag
  • Polish: projekt ustawy
  • European Portuguese: projeto de lei
  • Romanian: proiect de lege
  • Russian: законопроект
  • Spanish: proyecto de ley
  • Swedish: proposition
  • Thai: ร่างกฎหมาย
  • Turkish: yasa
  • Ukrainian: законопроект
  • Vietnamese: dự luật
British English: bill VERB
If you bill someone for goods or services you have provided them with, you give or send them a bill stating how much money they owe you for these goods or services.
Are you going to bill me for this?
  • American English: bill
  • Brazilian Portuguese: faturar
  • Chinese: 给…开账单
  • European Spanish: pasarle la factura a
  • French: facturer
  • German: eine Rechnung ausstellen
  • Italian: far avere la fattura a
  • Japanese: 請求書を送る
  • Korean: 청구하다
  • European Portuguese: faturar
  • Spanish: pasarle la factura a

Translate your text for free

Nearby words of 'bill'

  • biliteral
  • biliverdin
  • bilk
  • bill
  • bill broker
  • bill of adventure
  • bill of attainder

  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'B'

Related Terms of 'bill'

  • T-bill
  • bank bill
  • crow-bill
  • due bill

Source

Definition of bill from the Collins English Dictionary

Numbers

There are two common kinds of number: Cardinal numbers are used in all forms of counting that involve a total. one chair two chairs a hundred people ten thousand pounds Ordinal numbers ...
Read more about 'Numbers'
Word of the day:
puffin
A puffin is a black and white seabird with a large, brightly-coloured beak .
See full definition
Apr 19, 2018
Fed up with the great British weather? Here’s how to afford that dream summer escape
From planning early to knowing where to look, these top tips will help you fulfil your summer holiday desires
Read more
The etymology behind 4 eggs-ellent Springtime words
We’ve explored the diverse etymology of 4 eggs-ellent words associated with spring.
Read more
Up Lit, Alexa Laugh & Meet Me at McDonald’s Hair: March’s Words In The News
Catch up on the latest words in the news this March with Robert Groves.
Read more
Join the Collins community
All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month.
Read more
Scrabble score for 'bill': 6
Latest Word Submissions
Barrecore Apr 18, 2018
wido Apr 18, 2018
centimorgan Apr 17, 2018
gender expansive Apr 16, 2018
Carthritis Apr 15, 2018
Submit View More
Browse the English Dictionary
  • #
  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • Q
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • X
  • Y
  • Z
View all dictionaries...
  • View more
  • API
  • B2B Partnerships
  • Advertising
  • Word Banks
  • Collins COBUILD
  • Collins ELT
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact us
  • Languages
  • English
  • Thesaurus
  • Grammar
  • French
  • German
  • Spanish
  • Italian
  • Chinese
  • Portuguese
  • Hindi
  • Word Lists
  • Word of the Year
  • Scrabble
  • COBUILD Anniversary
© Collins 2018