bad

1
[ bad ]
/ bæd /

adjective, worse, worst; (Slang) bad·der, bad·dest for 36.

noun

adverb Informal.

badly: He wanted it bad enough to steal it.

Idioms for bad

Origin of bad

1
1250–1300; Middle English badde, perhaps akin to Old English bæddel hermaphrodite, bædling womanish man

synonym study for bad

2. Bad, evil, ill, wicked are closest in meaning in reference to that which is lacking in moral qualities or is actually vicious and reprehensible. Bad is the broadest and simplest term: a bad man; bad habits. Evil applies to that which violates or leads to the violation of moral law: evil practices. Ill now appears mainly in certain fixed expressions, with a milder implication than that in evil: ill will; ill-natured. Wicked implies willful and determined doing of what is very wrong: a wicked plan.

usage note for bad

The adjective bad meaning “unpleasant, unattractive, unfavorable, spoiled, etc.,” is the usual form to follow such copulative verbs as sound, smell, look, and taste: After the rainstorm the water tasted bad. The coach says the locker room smells bad. After the copulative verb feel, the adjective badly in reference to physical or emotional states is also used and is standard, although bad is more common in formal writing: I feel bad from overeating. She felt badly about her friend's misfortune.
When the adverbial use is required, badly is standard with all verbs: She reacted badly to the criticism. Bad as an adverb appears mainly in informal contexts: I didn't do too bad on the tests. He wants money so bad it hurts. See also badly, good.

OTHER WORDS FROM bad

bad·ness, noun

Definition for bad (2 of 4)

bad 2
[ bad ]
/ bæd /

verb Archaic.

a simple past tense of bid1.

Definition for bad (3 of 4)

Origin of bid

1
before 900; Middle English bidden, Old English biddan to beg, ask; cognate with Old Frisian bidda, Old Saxon biddian, Old High German bittan (German bitten), Old Norse bithja, Gothic bidjan; all < Germanic *bid-ja- (< Indo-European *bhidh-) command, akin to Greek peíthein to persuade, inspire with trust, English bide

OTHER WORDS FROM bid

bid·der, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH bid

bidder bitter

Definition for bad (4 of 4)

bid 2
[ bid ]
/ bɪd /

verb Archaic.

past participle of bide.

Example sentences from the Web for bad

British Dictionary definitions for bad (1 of 3)

bad 1
/ (bæd) /

adjective worse or worst

noun

adverb

not standard badly to want something bad

Derived forms of bad

baddish, adjective badness, noun

Word Origin for bad

C13: probably from bæd-, as the first element of Old English bǣddel hermaphrodite, bǣdling sodomite

British Dictionary definitions for bad (2 of 3)

bad 2
/ (bæd) /

verb

a variant of bade

British Dictionary definitions for bad (3 of 3)

bid
/ (bɪd) /

verb bids, bidding, bad, bade, esp for senses 1, 2, 5, 7 bid, bidden or esp for senses 1, 2, 5, 7 bid

noun

See also bid in, bid up

Derived forms of bid

bidder, noun

Word Origin for bid

Old English biddan; related to German bitten

Idioms and Phrases with bad

bad