adj
Meaning 1
Ill, unwell, sick.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK
Examples
- to report one's child poorly
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
poorly
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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Received-Pronunciation: /ˈpʊə.li/
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Received-Pronunciation: /ˈpɔː.li/
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General-American: /ˈpʊɹ.li/
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General-American: /ˈpɔɹ.li/
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US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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rhymes with -ʊə(ɹ)li
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rhymes with -ɔː(ɹ)li
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CMU ARPABET: P UW1 R L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
adv
Meaning 2
In a poor manner or condition; without plenty, or sufficiency, or suitable provision for comfort.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- to live poorly
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adv
Meaning 3
With little or no success; indifferently; with little profit or advantage.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- to do poorly in business
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adv
Meaning 4
Meanly; without spirit.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adv
Meaning 5
Without skill or merit.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- He plays tennis poorly.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adv
Meaning 6
In a negative manner; with disapproval; unfavorably.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- I think poorly of them.
- She looked poorly on that suggestion.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adverb
Meaning 7
(`ill' is often used as a combining form) in a poor or improper or unsatisfactory manner; not well
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- he was ill prepared
- it ill befits a man to betray old friends
- the car runs badly
- he performed badly on the exam
- the team played poorly
- ill-fitting clothes
- an ill-conceived plan
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: ill, badly
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *peh2w- Proto-Indo-European *perh3-? Proto-Indo-European *peh2w(o)p(o)rh3o- Proto-Italic *paw(o)paro-? Latin dīvesinflu. Latin pauper Old French povrebor. Middle English povre English poor Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-West Germanic *-līk Old English -līċ Middle English -ly English -ly English poorly From poor + -ly.
From Middle English poorly, pouerly, poreliche, poureliche, pouerliche, equivalent to poor + -ly.
Across languages
Translations
3 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Finnish: köyhänä — without plenty
- Finnish: köyhästi — without plenty
- Polish: biednie — without plenty
Real reading context