badly

Definition

Badly means in a poor or unsuccessful way. It can also mean very much, especially with verbs like “want” or “need,” or seriously, when talking about injury or damage.

Usage & Nuances

Common patterns: “do badly in a test,” “be badly hurt,” “badly need/want.” Learners often confuse “bad” and “badly”: “bad” is usually an adjective, while “badly” is an adverb. In informal English, “I badly need it” sounds stronger than “I need it.”

Example Sentences