(~er, ~est)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
Someone who is ~ has very little money and few possessions.
The reason our schools cannot afford better teachers is because people here are ~...
He was one of thirteen children from a ~ family.
? rich
ADJ
•
The ~ are people who are ~.
Even the ~ have their pride.
N-PLURAL: the N
2.
The people in a ~ country or area have very little money and few possessions.
Many countries in the Third World are as ~ as they have ever been.
...a settlement house for children in a ~ neighborhood.
? rich
ADJ
3.
You use ~ to express your sympathy for someone.
I feel sorry for that ~ child...
Poor chap–he was killed in an air crash...
ADJ: ADJ n feelings
4.
If you describe something as ~, you mean that it is of a low quality or standard or that it is in bad condition.
The flat was in a ~ state of repair...
The wine was ~.
ADJ
~ly
Some are living in ~ly built dormitories, even in tents...
ADV: ADV -ed, ADV after v
5.
If you describe an amount, rate, or number as ~, you mean that it is less than expected or less than is considered reasonable.
...~ wages and working conditions.
ADJ
~ly
During the first week, the evening meetings were ~ly attended...
= badly
ADV: ADV -ed, ADV after v
6.
You use ~ to describe someone who is not very skilful in a particular activity.
He was a ~ actor...
Hospitals are ~ at collecting information.
ADJ: usu ADJ n, also v-link ADJ at -ing/n
~ly
That is the fact of Hungarian football–they can play very well or very ~ly.
ADV: ADV after v
7.
If something is ~ in a particular quality or substance, it contains very little of the quality or substance.
...soil that is ~ in zinc.
ADJ: v-link ADJ in n