poorly

  • 1Poorly — Poor ly, adv. 1. In a poor manner or condition; without plenty, or sufficiency, or suitable provision for comfort; as, to live poorly. [1913 Webster] 2. With little or no success; indifferently; with little profit or advantage; as, to do poorly… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2poorly — is both an adverb (They all performed poorly) and an adjective (= unwell, Her husband had been poorly for months). As in this example, the adjective is normally used after a verb (such as be), rather than in attributive position (before a noun) …

    Modern English usage

  • 3Poorly — Poor ly, a. Somewhat ill; indisposed; not in health. Having been poorly in health. T. Scott. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 4poorly — [adj] not well ailing, below par, failing, ill, indisposed, low, mean, out of sorts*, rotten*, sick, sickly, under the weather*, unwell; concept 314 Ant. healthy, well poorly [adv] unsatisfactorily badly, crudely, defectively, inadequately,… …

    New thesaurus

  • 5poorly — [poor′lē] adv. 1. in a poor manner, as scantily, badly, or defectively 2. with a low opinion; disparagingly [thought poorly of it] adj. Informal in poor health …

    English World dictionary

  • 6poorly — (adv.) c.1300, from POOR (Cf. poor) + LY (Cf. ly) (2). Meaning in ill health is from 1750 …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 7poorly — ► ADVERB ▪ in a poor manner. ► ADJECTIVE chiefly Brit. ▪ unwell …

    English terms dictionary

  • 8poorly — poor|ly1 [ˈpo:li US ˈpurli] adv badly ▪ Jana s doing poorly in school. ▪ poorly educated workers ▪ The article was poorly written. poorly 2 poorly2 adj BrE informal ill ▪ Matt s wife s been very poorly …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 9poorly — 1 adverb badly: poorly paid | Jana s doing poorly in school. | a poorly written article 2 adjective (not before noun) informal especially BrE ill: Matt s wife s been feeling poorly …

    Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • 10poorly — I UK [ˈpɔː(r)lɪ] / UK [ˈpʊə(r)lɪ] / US [ˈpʊrlɪ] adverb * badly a poorly paid job The hospital is poorly equipped. • be poorly off II UK [ˈpɔː(r)lɪ] / UK [ˈpʊə(r)lɪ] / US [ˈpʊrlɪ] adjective British informal ill …

    English dictionary