Word
miserably
Phoneticsmis·er·ably
US/ˈmɪzɝəbɫi/
UK/mˈɪzɹəbli/
Adverb of manner
Definition
adv. in a way that shows you are very unhappy or that something is done very badly.
adv. in a manner expressing great unhappiness or distress; alternatively, used to describe a complete or pathetic failure.
Examples
“He sat miserably in the rain waiting for the bus.”
“The team failed miserably in their attempt to win the championship after losing every single game.”
“The negotiations failed miserably when neither side proved willing to compromise on the fundamental terms of the agreement, leading to a total breakdown in communication.”
Examples
simple
“He sat miserably in the rain waiting for the bus.”
contextual
“The team failed miserably in their attempt to win the championship after losing every single game.”
complex
“The negotiations failed miserably when neither side proved willing to compromise on the fundamental terms of the agreement, leading to a total breakdown in communication.”
Usage
Often used to intensify verbs of failure like 'fail' or 'lose'.
Pitfall
He failed miserable
He failed miserably
Learners often use the adjective form instead of the adverb to describe the manner of a failure.
Etymology
From Middle English myserablie; equivalent to miserable + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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