<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-18</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000049826</issuerCik><issuerName>ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>ITW</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001074607</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>ALDINGER WILLIAM F III</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>COMMON STOCK</value><footnoteId id="F1" /><footnoteId id="F2" /></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-18</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>175</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>67.10</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7175</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>1998-12-11</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1057</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>1.00</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1057</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1057</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Deferred Stock Under the ITW Non-Officers Directors Fee Conversion Plan</footnote><footnote id="F2">Includes 100 Shares held by my wife as to which I disclaim beneficial ownership </footnote><footnote id="F3">Represents Units of Phantom Stock under the Phantom Stock Plan for Non-Officer Directors.  Each unit is equal in value to one share of Common Stock.  The Units are not transferable and have no voting rights.  Additional units are credited in amounts equivalent to cash dividends paid on the Common Stock.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Wm. F. Aldinger by S. S. Hudnut, Sr. V.P., Gen. Counsel &amp; Secretary   Attorney-in-Fact  POA on File</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-19</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

