Badly
/ˈbædli/
adverbBeginnerVery CommonGeneral
Idiom
Meaning
Questions
Definitions
1
In a bad manner or to a significant degree.
/ˈbædli/
adverbnegativeBeginner
General
To a great extent; severely or seriously.
The car was badly damaged.
💡 Simply: Very much; poorly.
More Examples
2
She needed the money badly.
3
He sang badly.
How It's Used
General
"He was badly injured in the accident."
Informal Conversation
"I need to leave badly; I'm late for a meeting."
Idioms & expressions
badly need
To require something urgently.
"I badly need a vacation."
From Old English *bædlīċe, from bad.
The word 'badly' has been used to express a negative degree or manner since Old English.
Memory tip
Think of 'bad' and add '-ly' to make it an adverb.
Practice
badleybadliy
Usage
70%Spoken
30%Written