What does badly mean?
Badly is one of the most frequently used adverbs in English, with two principal meanings that learners often need to distinguish carefully. In its dominant sense, it describes something done poorly or ineffectively: a team can play badly, a letter can be written badly, a machine can be repaired badly. In its second sense, it expresses degree or intensity, indicating that something has been seriously or extensively affected — a building may be badly damaged, or a person badly injured. There is also a common informal usage, especially in British English, in which 'badly' means 'very much' or 'desperately', as in 'I badly want a holiday'. The word derives from 'bad', and like that adjective it carries negative connotations across all its senses. Because 'badly' sits at the centre of everyday evaluation and complaint, it appears constantly in conversation, journalism, and criticism, making secure command of its meanings essential for fluent English.
adverbBadly means in an unsatisfactory, ineffective, or poor manner, or to a serious or severe degree. It is also used, chiefly in informal British English, to mean very much or intensely (as in 'I badly want a holiday').
- In a poor or unsatisfactory manner; ineffectively or incompetently (e.g. 'she sang badly').
- To a serious, severe, or extensive degree (e.g. 'badly injured', 'badly damaged').
- (Informal, chiefly British) Very much; intensely; desperately (e.g. 'I badly need some sleep').
"The team played badly in the first half and never recovered."
"The restaurant cooked the steak so badly that it was sent back to the kitchen."
"The old bridge was badly damaged in the storm."
In British English, 'badly' can mean 'desperately' — as in 'I badly need a coffee' — a usage that puzzles many American speakers.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of badly
Badly is the adverbial form of 'bad', an adjective of obscure origin that has been part of English since the medieval period. Some scholars have suggested links to Old English 'bæddel' (a hermaphrodite or effeminate man) recorded in early glossaries, though this derivation remains debated. The adverb 'badly' developed alongside its parent adjective and became firmly established by the early modern period, serving both to describe poor performance and, through idiomatic extension, to indicate severity. Its relatives include the comparative 'worse' and superlative 'worst', which share the same root family.
How badly is actually used
When 'badly' modifies a person or thing directly ('badly hurt', 'badly paid'), it indicates severity rather than poor performance. The sense meaning 'very much' is informal and far more common in British than American English, where speakers typically use 'really' or 'desperately' instead.
Easily confused with badly
'Bad' is an adjective describing something of poor quality, while 'badly' is an adverb describing how an action is performed or how severely something is affected.