poorly
gb/pˈʊɹli/ us/pˈʊɹli/
B1
Inglés
~ 9200
Acepciones
0 acepciones
adverb
B1
property
1
In a bad or unsatisfactory way
In a bad way; not well, especially when talking about work, exams, or how something is made or done.
Patrón de uso:
[someone] does [something] poorly
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes say *"I did bad on the test"* instead of *"I did badly"* or *"I did poorly"*. Also, they may confuse *poor* (adjective) with *poorly* (adverb), saying *"He speaks poor"* instead of *"He speaks poorly"*.
Sinónimos
badly (The most direct synonym; slightly more common in everyday speech.)
|
inadequately (Stresses that something does not meet the needed standard or level.)
Antónimos
well (General opposite, used for doing something in a successful or good way.)
|
effectively (Opposite when focusing on how successful or useful an action is.)
Colocaciones
perform poorly
|do poorly in exams
|poorly written
|poorly designed
|poorly managed
|poorly executed
Temas
education
|work
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- She performed poorly on the final exam and had to retake the class.
- The project was poorly planned, so it went over budget.
- Many customers complained that the app was poorly designed and hard to use.
- The team played poorly in the first half but improved later.
- His argument was poorly written and full of logical errors.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- I did poorly on the test.
- The movie was poorly made and looked cheap.
- The company is poorly managed.
- The report was poorly written, so I could not understand it.
- The team played poorly and lost the game.
adjective
informal
B2
state
2
Feeling slightly ill or unwell
Feeling a bit sick or not well; used a lot in British English.
Patrón de uso:
[someone] feels poorly
Error frecuente:
Learners may overuse *poorly* for health in all varieties of English, but this is mainly British and somewhat old-fashioned in American English. In American English, *sick* or *not feeling well* is more natural. Some learners also confuse this with the adverb use and try to say *"I am poorly"* when they mean they did something badly, which sounds like a health statement instead.
Sinónimos
unwell (Very close in meaning and register; common in both British and international English.)
|
sick (More general and slightly stronger; can suggest more serious illness.)
Antónimos
well (General opposite, meaning in good health.)
|
healthy (Stresses overall good physical condition rather than a momentary feeling.)
Colocaciones
feeling poorly
|look poorly
|seem poorly
|be poorly today
Temas
health
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- I'm feeling a bit poorly, so I think I'll stay home tonight.
- She looked poorly all week and finally went to see a doctor.
- He's been rather poorly since he caught that cold.
- Our daughter was poorly over the weekend but is much better now.
- If you're still feeling poorly tomorrow, you should take the day off.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- I feel poorly today.
- She looks poorly and very tired.
- He was poorly last week, but he is fine now.
- I stayed in bed because I felt poorly.
- If you are poorly, you should see a doctor.
adverb
B2
property
3
Not enough; in an insufficient way
Not enough; with too little money, help, education, or other things that are needed.
Patrón de uso:
[someone/something] is poorly [past participle]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes use *low* instead of *poorly* before past participles, saying *"low paid"* or *"low funded"*. While *low-paid* is possible as a combined adjective, *poorly paid* and *poorly funded* are more natural in many contexts. Another mistake is to say *"few paid"* or *"little paid"* when they want to express *poorly paid*.
Sinónimos
insufficiently (Stresses that the amount or level does not meet what is needed or expected.)
|
inadequately (Similar meaning, often used in more formal or written contexts.)
Antónimos
well (Opposite when used before participles like *paid* or *funded* (e.g. *well paid*, *well funded*).)
|
adequately (Opposite in contexts about enough money, support, or resources.)
Colocaciones
poorly paid
|poorly funded
|poorly educated
|poorly equipped
|poorly maintained
|poorly lit
Temas
economy
|society
|work
|finance
|education
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- Many nurses feel they are poorly paid for the work they do.
- The school is poorly funded and lacks basic equipment.
- A poorly educated workforce can limit a country's economic growth.
- The soldiers were poorly equipped for the cold conditions.
- The path was poorly lit, making it unsafe at night.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The workers are poorly paid.
- This hospital is poorly funded by the government.
- Many people in that village are poorly educated.
- Our office is poorly equipped for online meetings.
- The street is poorly lit at night.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
poorly
AFI
GB/pˈʊɹli/
US/pˈʊɹli/
Sílabas y acento
poorly (1 sílaba)
Stress on 1st syllable (poorly)
Formas de la palabra
Adjective
- Base: poorly
Familia de palabras
Related words
impoverish
verb C1
impoverished
adjective
Advanced or less common
impoverishment
noun
Expresiones
poorly designed
1/pˈʊɹli dɪzˈaɪnd/
fixed phrase
Designed in a bad or ineffective way
Made or planned in a bad way, so it does not work well or is not easy to use.
Ejemplos
- The website is poorly designed and hard to navigate.
- A poorly designed system caused the delays.
poorly educated
1/pˈʊɹli ˈɛd͡ʒəkˌeɪtɪd/
fixed phrase
Having little schooling or education
Having not enough schooling or education.
Ejemplos
- A poorly educated population can slow economic development.
- He came from a poorly educated family but went on to university.
poorly equipped
1/pˈʊɹli ɪkwˈɪpt/
fixed phrase
Lacking needed tools or equipment
Not having enough of the tools, machines, or things you need for a job or situation.
Ejemplos
- The clinic is poorly equipped to handle emergencies.
- Small schools are often poorly equipped for science classes.
poorly executed
1/pˈʊɹli ˈɛksɪkjˌutɪd/
fixed phrase
Carried out badly or clumsily
Done in a bad way, even if the idea was good.
Ejemplos
- The plan was clever but poorly executed.
- It was a good concept but poorly executed on screen.
poorly funded
1/pˈʊɹli fˈʌndɪd/
fixed phrase
Having too little financial support
Not getting enough money to do what is needed.
Ejemplos
- Public libraries in this area are poorly funded.
- Many mental health services remain poorly funded.
poorly lit
1/pˈʊɹli lˈɪt/
fixed phrase
Having not enough light
With too little light; not bright enough to see well.
Ejemplos
- The car park is poorly lit at night.
- He tripped on the stairs in a poorly lit hallway.
poorly maintained
1/pˈʊɹli meɪntˈeɪnd/
fixed phrase
Not cared for or repaired enough
Not cleaned, fixed, or cared for enough, so it is in bad condition.
Ejemplos
- The building is old and poorly maintained.
- Poorly maintained roads can be dangerous.
poorly managed
1/pˈʊɹli mˈænɪd͡ʒd/
fixed phrase
Run or organized badly
Led or organized in a bad way, so things do not work well.
Ejemplos
- The company went bankrupt because it was poorly managed.
- A poorly managed project can waste a lot of money.
poorly paid
1/pˈʊɹli pˈeɪd/
fixed phrase
Earning low wages for work
Earning less money than is fair or enough for the work you do.
Ejemplos
- Teachers are often poorly paid compared to other professionals.
- Many part-time workers are poorly paid and have no benefits.
poorly timed
1/pˈʊɹli tˈaɪmd/
fixed phrase
Happening at a bad time
Happening at a time that is not good or not suitable.
Ejemplos
- His joke was poorly timed and nobody laughed.
- The announcement was poorly timed, coming right after the layoffs.
poorly understood
1/pˈʊɹli ˌʌndɚstˈʊd/
fixed phrase
Not clearly understood
Not clearly known or not fully understood by many people.
Ejemplos
- The long-term effects of the drug are still poorly understood.
- Many ancient languages remain poorly understood.
poorly written
1/pˈʊɹli ɹˈɪtən/
fixed phrase
Written badly or unclearly
Written in a bad way, so it is not clear, not correct, or not easy to read.
Ejemplos
- The instructions were so poorly written that nobody understood them.
- Many reviews said the book was poorly written but had good ideas.