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REFERENCE

terrible

adj. · adv.
US //ˈtɛɹəbəɫ// UK //tˈɛɹəbəl// ter·ri·ble
  1. 1 very bad quality (adj.)
    A1 Beginner

    very bad or of poor quality.

    of very poor quality; extremely unsatisfactory or incompetent.

    Example

    The food at that restaurant was terrible and we couldn't finish it.

    Example

    The critics agreed that the acting was terrible, noting that the lead performers seemed to have forgotten their lines entirely.
  2. 2 very unpleasant (adj.)
    A2 Elementary

    making you feel very unhappy, sick, or uncomfortable.

    causing great distress, discomfort, or unpleasantness.

    Example

    I have a terrible headache and need to lie down in a dark room.

    Example

    The family received the terrible news of the accident while they were preparing for the holiday celebrations.
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  1. 3 extreme or intense (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    very great or extreme in degree.

    extreme in degree, extent, or intensity; often used to describe weather or speed.

    Example

    The boat struggled to stay upright during the terrible storm.

    Example

    The car was travelling at a terrible speed when it lost control on the icy corner.
  2. 4 causing fear (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Literary

    causing great fear or terror.

    instilling fear, terror, or awe; formidable in nature.

    Example

    The dragon was a terrible beast that no knight dared to fight.

    Example

    The ancient army was a terrible sight as it marched across the plains, its banners snapping in the wind.
  3. 5 very (adv.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Dialect

    used to mean 'very' or 'extremely' when talking to friends.

    used as an intensifier meaning 'very' or 'extremely'; common in specific regional dialects.

    Example

    It is a terrible long way to the next town from here.

    Example

    He was a terrible nice man once you got to know him, despite his grumpy appearance.

    Usage

    In this sense, the word functions as an adverb modifying an adjective, though it retains the adjective form.
Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *tres- Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Indo-European *troséyeti Proto-Italic *trozeō Latin terreō Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlis Proto-Italic *-ðlis Latin -bilis Latin terribilisbor. Old French terriblebor. Middle English terrible English terrible Inherited from Middle English terrible, from Old French terrible, from Latin terribilis (“frightful”), from terreō (“I frighten, terrify, alarm; I deter by terror, scare (away)”). Compare terror, deter. By surface analysis, terror + -ible.

Word family

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