badly

[ bad-lee ]

adverb

, worse, worst.

1. in a defective, incorrect, or undesirable way:

   The car runs badly.

2. in an unsatisfactory, inadequate, or unskilled manner:

   a vague, badly written letter; He paints badly.

3. unfavorably:

   His neighbors spoke badly of him. The weather turned out badly for the cruise.

4. in a wicked, evil, or morally or legally wrong way.
5. in a disobedient, naughty, or ethically or socially wrong way:

   He treats his parents badly.

6. very much; to a great extent or degree:

   a house badly in need of repair; to want something badly.

7. severely; direly:

   to be injured badly.

8. with great distress, resentment, regret, or emotional display:

   She took the news of her mother's death badly.

adjective

1. in ill health; sick:

   He felt badly.

2. sorry; regretful:

   I feel badly about your reaction to my remark.

3. dejected; downcast.

badly

/ ˈbædlɪ /

adverb

1. poorly; defectively; inadequately

   the chair is badly made

2. unfavourably; unsuccessfully; unfortunately

   our scheme worked out badly

3. severely; gravely

   he was badly hurt

4. incorrectly or inaccurately

   to speak German badly

5. improperly; naughtily; wickedly

   to behave badly

6. without humanity; cruelly

   to treat someone badly

7. very much (esp in the phrases need badly , badly in need of , want badly )
8. regretfully

   he felt badly about it

9. badly off
   poor; impoverished

adjective

1. dialect.
   postpositive ill; poorly

Usage Note

In the sense “very much,” badly is fully standard: He needs help badly. bad ¹.

Word History and Origins

Origin of badly¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English baddeli, baddeliche, badli(che) “wickedly, evilly, poorly”; bad ¹, -ly

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. badly off. bad ¹( def 41 ).

Example Sentences

"The stress of looking over my shoulder... started to play on me quite badly," admits David.

From BBC

It’s such a sensitive subject because you want it so badly.

From BBC

They were in trouble again early in the new half when Scotland had an attacking lineout seven metres from the visitors’ line, but Ashman’s throw went badly awry.

From BBC

“All of those gifts were received by me and my parents so earnestly. My parents may have even felt badly that a family dispute had led to so many people being concerned about my health.”

From Los Angeles Times

Davis, who led the Lakers with 39 points, badly missed a contested shot at the buzzer.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• deeply
• greatly
• hard
• painfully
• seriously
• severely