A1adjective 1K

Bad

🇬🇧 UK /["/bæd/","/wɜːs/","/wɜːst/"]/ 🇺🇸 US /["/bæd/","/wɜːrs/","/wɜːrst/"]/

Meaning of Bad

unpleasant; full of problems

In simple words: not good or harmful

Bad in a sentence

• That was a bad performance by the team.
• I have a bad feeling about this situation.
• Eating too much junk food can be bad for your health.
• It's bad manners to talk with your mouth full.
• He made a bad decision that cost him a lot of money.

How to use Bad

Use 'bad' to describe something that is of poor quality or morally wrong. It's generally appropriate in everyday conversation but can be too informal in professional settings. In formal writing, consider alternatives such as 'unfavorable' or 'detrimental'.

Grammar pattern

bad + noun

Memory hint

Think of a 'bad' guy in a movie — always causing trouble!

Related words

Collocations with Bad

• be
• look
• sound
• extremely
• fairly
• very
• at
• for
• not half bad
• be
• look
• sound
• extremely
• fairly
• very
• at
• for
• not half bad
• be
• look
• sound
• extremely
• fairly
• very
• at
• for
• not half bad
• be
• look
• smell
• feel
• extremely
• fairly
• very
• about
• be
• look
• sound
• extremely
• fairly
• very
• at
• for
• not half bad

Synonyms for Bad

• naughty
• poor

Opposites of Bad

• good
• excellent
• positive

Common mistakes with Bad

• Using 'bad' instead of 'badly' as an adverb: e.g., 'He performed bad' instead of 'He performed badly'.
• Confusing 'bad' with 'ill' when referring to health. 'Ill' is usually used in formal contexts.
• Saying 'more bad' instead of 'worse' for comparative form.

Frequently asked questions about Bad

What does Bad mean?

not good or harmful

What is the definition of Bad?

unpleasant; full of problems

How do you use Bad in a sentence?

That was a bad performance by the team.

Can you give another example of Bad?

I have a bad feeling about this situation.

What are synonyms for Bad?

Common alternatives include naughty, poor.

What is the opposite of Bad?

Opposite meanings include good, excellent, positive.

What words go with Bad?

It commonly pairs with be, look, sound, extremely, fairly, very, at, for, not half bad, be, look, sound, extremely, fairly, very, at, for, not half bad, be, look, sound, extremely, fairly, very, at, for, not half bad, be, look, smell, feel, extremely, fairly, very, about, be, look, sound, extremely, fairly, very, at, for, not half bad.

What are common mistakes when using Bad?

Using 'bad' instead of 'badly' as an adverb: e.g., 'He performed bad' instead of 'He performed badly'. Confusing 'bad' with 'ill' when referring to health. 'Ill' is usually used in formal contexts. Saying 'more bad' instead of 'worse' for comparative form.

How do you pronounce Bad?

US: /["/bæd/","/wɜːrs/","/wɜːrst/"]/, UK: /["/bæd/","/wɜːs/","/wɜːst/"]/. Listen to the audio above to hear native pronunciation.

When should I use Bad?

Use 'bad' to describe something that is of poor quality or morally wrong. It's generally appropriate in everyday conversation but can be too informal in professional settings. In formal writing, consider alternatives such as 'unfavorable' or 'detrimental'.

What CEFR level is Bad?

"Bad" is at A1 level on the CEFR scale.