# terribly

/ˈtɛɹəbɫi/ (US) · /tˈɛɹəbli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/terribly
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. very badly

adverb · CEFR B1

in a very bad or poor way.

For teachers: in a manner that is very poor, unpleasant, or unsuccessful.

- The team played terribly and lost the game by four goals.
- The project was terribly managed from the start, leading to significant budget overruns and a complete loss of stakeholder confidence.

### 2. extremely

adverb · CEFR B2 · Formal · British English

used to mean 'very' or 'extremely', often to show you feel strongly about something.

For teachers: used as an intensifier to mean 'extremely' or 'to a great extent'.

- I am terribly sorry for being late to the meeting.
- She felt terribly lonely in the large house after her children moved away to start their own lives in the city.

### 3. causing terror

adverb · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

in a way that causes great fear or wonder.

For teachers: in a manner that inspires terror, awe, or great dread.

- The thunder roared terribly across the dark valley.
- The ancient beast loomed terribly over the knights, its eyes glowing with a prehistoric hunger that froze them in place.

## Examples

- I am terribly sorry for being late.
- The weather was terribly cold during our walk, so we decided to head back early for tea.
- The protagonist is terribly conflicted about his decision, torn between his duty to his family and his personal desire for freedom.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.