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

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

In Athens, 17-year-old Greek school pupil Yiannis Papanikolaou told AFP: "School buildings are terrible and poorly maintained… I think something might change, because of what France is doing, France will spur Greece."

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

“I didn’t know that, he forgot, I suppose, and, as your grandpa was poorly, I didn’t like to worry him by asking, though I did want some.”

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

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Related Words

• badly
• crudely
• inadequately
• insufficiently

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