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

Video: pronunciation of 'bill'

Word Frequency

bill in British 1

(bɪl )

noun

money owed for goods or services supplied

an electricity bill

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

any printed or written list of items, events, etc, such as a theatre programme

who's on the bill tonight?

5. fit the bill

a statute in draft, before it becomes law

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

Word origin of 'bill'

C14: from Anglo-Latin billa, alteration of Late Latin bulla document, bull3

Word Frequency

bill in British 2

(bɪl )

noun

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

any beaklike mouthpart in other animals

a narrow promontory

Portland Bill

4. nautical

the pointed tip of the fluke of an anchor

verb (intransitive)

(of birds, esp doves) to touch bills together

(of lovers) to kiss and whisper amorously

Word origin of 'bill'

Old English bile; related to bill bill3

Word Frequency

bill in British 3

(bɪl )

noun

a pike or halberd with a narrow hooked blade

2. short for billhook

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)

Word origin of 'bill'

C18: from dialect beel bell2 (vb)

Word Frequency

Bill in American

(bɪl ; bil)

noun

a masculine name

bill in American 1

(bɪl ; bil)

noun

a statement, usually itemized, of charges for goods or services; invoice

a statement or list, as a menu, theater program, ship's roster, etc.

a poster or handbill, esp. one announcing a circus, show, etc.

the entertainment offered in a theater

a draft of a law proposed to a lawmaking body

a bill of exchange

any promissory note

8. US

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.

to advertise by bills or posters

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

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

the horny jaws of a bird, usually projecting to a point; beak

a beaklike mouth part, as of a turtle

the point of an anchor fluke

4. US

the peak, or visor, of a cap

verb intransitive

to touch bills together

to caress someone lovingly

now only in the phrase bill and coo, to kiss, talk softly, etc. in a loving way

Word origin of 'bill'

ME & OE bile < IE base *bhei-, to strike

Word Frequency

bill in American 3

(bɪl ; bil)

noun

a medieval weapon having a hook-shaped blade with a spike at the back, mounted on a long staff

billhook

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)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

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Trends of 'bill'

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

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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?