poorly

American  

[poor-lee] / ˈpʊər li /

adverb

1. in a poor manner or way.

   The team played poorly.

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adjective

1. in poor health; somewhat ill.

   I hear she's been poorly.

poorly British  

/ ˈpʊəlɪ, ˈpɔː- /

adverb

1. in a poor way or manner; badly

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adjective

1. informal (usually postpositive) in poor health; rather ill

   she's poorly today

Etymology

Origin of poorly

First recorded in 1250–1300, poorly is from the Middle English word pourely. See poor, -ly

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

poorly

These results may surprise you, given that the stock market typically reacts poorly to economic-policy uncertainty.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026

For Fuller, these exceptionally energetic neutrinos are among IceCube's most exciting discoveries because their origins and the physical processes responsible for accelerating them remain poorly understood.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2026

The movement's complaints range from the high cost of living to poorly maintained schools, government spending cuts and, more broadly, what it sees as politicians making decisions with apparently little regard for the younger generation.

From Barron's ● Oct. 31, 2026

Mr. Specht writes that when the sons “tried to settle these long-standing debts, their tenants, struggling with exhausted soils and poorly paying crops, began to resist in earnest.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

Steve Eisman had become a poorly kept secret.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

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Related Words

• badly
• crudely
• inadequately
• insufficiently

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