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  

/ ˈpɔː-, ˈpʊəlɪ /

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

poorly

Many big food manufacturers such as Danone and Nestlé have adopted it widely, but some brands – especially where they'd score poorly - simply opt out.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

The universal popularity of USB-C means the market is now flooded with cheaply made, poorly engineered charging accessories.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026

That contrast is especially striking in the Bismarck Sea north of Papua New Guinea, where the seafloor remains poorly understood despite its remarkable geological complexity.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 10, 2026

But it was a noise that couldn’t drown out how poorly the team played.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026

“Strange believes it, too,” he told Drave, the explosionist, who sat by his side, faring poorly by proximity.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor

Related Words

• badly
• crudely
• inadequately
• insufficiently