poorly

Everyday

1. Poorly means badly, not well: «The team played poorly.» tree →
2. In British and Irish English, «poorly» also means ill or unwell: «Grandad is poorly today.» tree →
3. «Poorly paid» means getting too little money. tree →

In the lessons

In school reports «poorly» describes weak work («answered poorly»). In everyday UK life children say they feel poorly when they are sick. Phrases: «feel poorly», «poorly paid», «poorly lit», «did poorly on the test».

Examples

• The street was poorly lit, so we used a torch. tree →
• He did poorly on the spelling test because he didn't practise. tree →
• I'm feeling poorly, Mum, can I stay home? tree →
• The plants grew poorly in the dark cupboard. tree →
• Our team played poorly in the first half but won in the end. tree →
• The house was poorly built and the roof leaked. tree →

Note

The adverb comes from «poor» + -ly. In the UK «poorly» as «ill» is friendly, informal and common with children; in the USA it is rare and people say «sick». «Poorly» does not mean «having little money» (that is «poor»).