poorly

1. 1
   adverb

   In a way that lacks skill or merit.

   The essay was poorly written and full of careless errors.

   The team defended poorly in the second half and gave up three goals.

   Similarbadly, inadequately, carelessly, shoddily, ineptly

   Oppositewell, skillfully, expertly

2. 2
   adverb

   With little or no success, profit, or advantage.

   The new restaurant did poorly and closed within a year.

   The film fared poorly at the box office despite strong reviews.

   Similarbadly, unsuccessfully

   Oppositewell, successfully

3. 3
   adverb

   In a poor way or condition, without plenty, enough, or the things needed for comfort.

   Many farm workers lived poorly, crowded into shacks with no heat.

   The soldiers were poorly fed and poorly clothed through the long winter.

   Similarbadly, inadequately, humbly, meagerly

   Oppositewell, comfortably, richly, lavishly

4. 4
   adverb

   Unfavorably, or with disapproval.

   The committee looks poorly on late applications.

   His rude behavior at the dinner reflects poorly on the whole team.

   Similarbadly, unfavorably, dimly

   Oppositewell, favorably, kindly

   Note

   This sense lives in a few fixed pairings of verb and preposition: think poorly of someone, look poorly on a suggestion, reflect poorly on a team. The verb names the kind of judgment, and poorly supplies the verdict.

5. 5
   adjectiveUK

   Ill or unwell.

   The school rang to say our daughter was feeling poorly and needed collecting.

   Gran has been very poorly since her fall in the spring.

   Similarunwell, ill, sick

   Oppositewell, healthy

   Note

   British speech uses it for illness, usually after a verb: feeling poorly, report one's child poorly. It can sound mild, but very poorly may mean gravely ill: in Carla van Raay's The Price of Passion (2008), Kim is very poorly and can hardly see. As an adjective it takes poorlier and poorliest, forms the adverb rarely allows.

6. 6
   adverb

   In a mean, spiritless way, without dignity or courage.

   Nor is their courage or their wealth so low, / That from his wars they poorly would retire.

   1667, John Dryden, Annus Mirabilis: The Year of Wonders

   Note

   Here the word judges character rather than results. John Dryden's Annus Mirabilis (1667) uses it of a retreat: their courage is not so low that they would poorly retire, that is, back away without spirit. Today the same words would be heard as with little success.

Showing meanings only. Show all 6