badly
/ˈbæd.li/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
In a bad manner.
Adverb
Examples
Things are going badly for her: she did badly in her exams owing to a badly designed studying schedule.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Very much; to a great degree.
Adverb
Examples
I want it so badly.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 3
Adjective
Examples
He's never badly.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “badly” mean?
In a bad manner.
Is “badly” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.