bad (worse comparative) (worst superlative )
1 adj Something that is bad is unpleasant, harmful, or undesirable., (Antonym: good)
The bad weather conditions prevented the plane from landing..., We have been going through a bad time..., I've had a bad day at work..., Divorce is bad for children..., Analysts fear the situation is even worse than the leadership admits.
2 adj You use bad to indicate that something unpleasant or undesirable is severe or great in degree.
He had a bad accident two years ago and had to give up farming..., This was a bad case of dangerous driving..., The pain is often so bad she wants to scream..., The floods are described as the worst in nearly fifty years.
3 adj A bad idea, decision, or method is not sensible or not correct.
usu ADJ n
(=poor) (Antonym: good)
Economist Jeffrey Faux says a tax cut is a bad idea..., Of course politicians will sometimes make bad decisions..., That's not a bad way to proceed, just somewhat different..., The worst thing you can do is underestimate an opponent.
4 adj If you describe a piece of news, an action, or a sign as bad, you mean that it is unlikely to result in benefit or success.
usu ADJ n (Antonym: good)
The closure of the project is bad news for her staff..., It was a bad start in my relationship with Warr..., The report couldn't have come at a worse time for the European Commission.
5 adj Something that is bad is of an unacceptably low standard, quality, or amount.
(=poor) (Antonym: good)
Many old people in Britain are living in bad housing..., The state schools' main problem is that teachers' pay is so bad..., It was absolutely the worst food I have ever had.
6 adj Someone who is bad at doing something is not skilful or successful at it.
v-link ADJ at -ing/n, ADJ n
(=poor) (Antonym: good)
He had increased Britain's reputation for being bad at languages..., He was a bad driver..., Rose was a poor cook and a worse mother.
7 adj If you say that it is bad that something happens, you mean it is unacceptable, unfortunate, or wrong.
v-link ADJ, oft it v-link ADJ that (Antonym: good)
Not being able to hear doesn't seem as bad as not being able to see..., You need at least ten pounds if you go to the cinema nowadays<endash>it's really bad.
8 adj You can say that something is not bad to mean that it is quite good or acceptable, especially when you are rather surprised about this.
with neg
`How much is he paying you?'<emdash10001`Oh, five thousand.'<emdash10002`Not bad.'..., `How are you, mate?'<emdash10003`Not bad, mate, how's yourself?'..., He's not a bad chap<endash10004quite human for an accountant..., That's not a bad idea.
9 adj A bad person has morally unacceptable attitudes and behaviour.
(=wicked) (Antonym: good)
I was selling drugs, but I didn't think I was a bad person..., He does not think that his beliefs make him any worse than any other man.
♦
badness n-uncount
They only recognise badness when they perceive it in others.
10 adj A bad child disobeys rules and instructions or does not behave in a polite and correct way.
(=naughty)
You are a bad boy for repeating what I told you..., Many parents find it hard to discourage bad behaviour.
11 adj If you are in a bad mood, you are angry and behave unpleasantly to people.
usu ADJ n
She is in a bit of a bad mood because she's just given up smoking.
12 adj If you feel bad about something, you feel rather sorry or guilty about it.
feel ADJ, oft ADJ about n, ADJ that (Antonym: good)
You don't have to feel bad about relaxing..., I feel bad that he's doing most of the work..., Are you trying to make me feel bad?
13 adj If you have a bad back, heart, leg, or eye, it is injured, diseased, or weak.
usu ADJ n
Alastair has a bad back so we have a hard bed.
14 adj Food that has gone bad is not suitable to eat because it has started to decay.
usu go ADJ, also ADJ n
They bought so much beef that some went bad.
15 adj Bad language is language that contains offensive words such as swear words.
usu ADJ n
I don't like to hear bad language in the street..., I said a bad word.
17 If you say that it is too bad that something is the case, you mean you are sorry or sad that it is the case.
♦
too bad phrase oft it v-link PHR that (feelings)
(=a pity, a shame)
It is too bad that Eleanor had to leave so soon..., Too bad he used his intelligence for criminal purposes.
18 If you say `too bad', you are indicating that nothing can be done to change the situation, and that you do not feel sorry or sympathetic about this.
♦
too bad convention
(feelings)
(=hard luck)
Too bad if you missed the bus.
19
→
to make the best of a bad job
→
best
→
bad blood
→
blood
→
bad luck
→
luck
→
to get a bad press
→
press
→
to go from bad to worse
→
worse
