badly: Meaning and Definition of

bad•ly

1. in a defective, incorrect, or undesirable way: The car runs badly.
2. in an unsatisfactory, inadequate, or unskilled manner: a vague, badly written letter; He paints badly.
3. unfavorably: His neighbors spoke badly of him. The weather turned out badly for the cruise.
4. in a wicked, evil, or morally or legally wrong way.
5. in a disobedient, naughty, or ethically or socially wrong way: He treats his parents badly.
6. very much; to a great extent or degree: a house badly in need of repair; to want something badly.
7. severely; direly: to be injured badly.
8. with great distress, resentment, regret, or emotional display: She took the news of her mother's death badly.
9. See(def. 47).

1. in ill health; sick: He felt badly.
2. sorry; regretful: I feel badly about your reaction to my remark.
3. dejected; downcast.