badly

UK: /ˈbædli/ US: /ˈbædli/ ,(bad′lē)

Inflections of 'badly' (adv):

worse

adv comparative

worst

adv superlative

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

bad•ly /ˈbædli/   adv., worse/wɜrs/  worst /wɜrst/   adj. 

adv. 

1. in a bad way;
   incorrectly, inadequately, or unfavorably:
   speaks French badly; a marriage that turned out badly.
2. in a wicked, evil, or morally wrong way.
3. in a naughty or socially wrong way:
   behaved badly in front of the guests.
4. to a great extent or degree;
   very much:
   wants the job badly.
5. very unpleasantly;
   severely: was injured badly during the shootout.
6. with great distress or emotional display:
   took the news badly.

adj. 

7. in ill health;
   sick:
   He felt badly and had a high fever.
8. sorry;
   regretful:
   I feel badly about your loss.

Idioms

9. Idioms badly off, [ be + ~]
   • in need of:
     We are quite badly off for money.
   • not having much money;
     poor.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

bad•ly  (bad′lē), adv., worse, worst, adj. 
adv. 

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.
9. Idioms badly off. See bad (def. 47).

adj. 

10. in ill health;
    sick:
    He felt badly.
11. sorry;
    regretful:
    I feel badly about your reaction to my remark.
12. dejected;
    downcast.

• Middle English baddeli. See bad¹, -ly 1350–1400

Usage

In the sense "very much,'' badly is fully standard:
He needs help badly.
See also bad. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

badly / ˈbædlɪ/ adverb (worse, worst)

1. poorly; defectively; inadequately
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