Worse is used to form the comparative of compound adjectives beginning with 'bad' and 'badly.' For example, the comparative of 'badly off' is 'worse off'.
4.
See to go from bad to worse
5.
See sb could do worse
6.
See to change for the worse
7.
See the worse/none the worse for sth
8. for better or worse
worse in British English
(wɜːs)
adjective
1. the comparative of bad1
2. none the worse for
3. the worse for wear
4. worse luck!
5. worse off
noun
6.
something that is worse
7. for the worse
8. go from bad to worse
adverb
9.
in a more severe or unpleasant manner
10.
in a less effective or successful manner
Word origin
Old English wiersa; related to Old Frisian werra, Old High German wirsiro, Old Norse verri, Gothic wairsiza
worse in American English
(wɜrs)
adjective
1. compar. of
bad1, ill1
2.
a.
bad, evil, harmful, unpleasant, etc. in a greater degree; less good
b.
of inferior quality or condition
3.
in poorer health or physical condition; more ill; less well
4.
in a less favorable condition; in a less satisfactory situation
adverb
5. compar. of
badly, ill1
6.
in a worse manner or way
7.
to a worse extent or degree
noun
8.
that which is worse
Idioms:
for the worse
worse off
Word origin
ME < OE wiersa (used as compar. of yfel, bad, evil), akin to OHG wirsiro, prob. < base of OHG & OS werran, to confuse
More idioms containing
worse
someone's bark is worse than their bite
the worse for wear
Examples of 'worse' in a sentence
worse
Households are already spending more than they earn and it will only get worse.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It could have been a lot worse.
The Sun (2016)
They will not say anything that might make a bad situation worse.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And sadly the problem appears to be getting worse.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Women have a tough enough time getting their voices heard and my insensitive comment only made matters worse.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Emotional stress makes the condition worse.
The Sun (2016)
There were subtle lines on the forehead - just making it all a bit worse!
The Sun (2016)
I just think things are getting worse for men, who are being judged in a similarly superficial way.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Better, perhaps, to reflect on how much worse it could have been.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Was the uncertainty not making things worse?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
What is making matters worse is the global economy is losing its sea legs.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The forecast is much worse this time so it was not worth the risk.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
So when does gamesmanship become something worse?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The lives of millions of animals could become a whole lot worse.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You could do worse than get going on a plank challenge.
The Sun (2016)
You know they make the situation worse.
The Sun (2015)
We have too much government and all it does is make our lives a little bit worse.
The Sun (2009)
When doctors they gave me sleeping tablets it made my condition worse.
The Sun (2015)
She says she understands but this is an added worry and making things worse.
The Sun (2014)
The pain was getting worse as they tugged and pulled at my nerves.
The Sun (2015)
The fact she had met her at work parties only made matters worse.
The Sun (2013)
Just think how much worse it could be.
The Sun (2012)
So has the idea that you should grab hold of nurse for fear of something worse.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
So things could definitely be a lot worse.
The Sun (2016)
We reckon all that would make a bad situation worse here.
The Sun (2014)
They will just be a bit worse off for doing so.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The worry is making her condition worse.
The Sun (2012)
Searching for a new position while in such a funk only made things worse.
Christianity Today (2000)
The inequality gets worse the higher executives move up the ladder.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
And things may well get worse.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Some people find that stress makes heartburn worse as well, so you could get advice from your doctor on stress management.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
worse
British English: worse /wɜːs/ ADJECTIVE
Worse is the comparative of bad. It means more bad.
American English: worse
Arabic: أَسْوَأ
Brazilian Portuguese: pior
Chinese: 更坏的
Croatian: gori
Czech: horší
Danish: værre
Dutch: slechter
European Spanish: peor
Finnish: huonompi
French: pire
German: schlechter
Greek: χειρότερος
Italian: peggiore
Japanese: 一層悪い
Korean: 더 나쁜
Norwegian: verre
Polish: gorszy
European Portuguese: pior
Romanian: mai rău
Russian: худший
Latin American Spanish: peor
Swedish: värre
Thai: แย่ลง
Turkish: daha kötü
Ukrainian: гірший
Vietnamese: xấu hơn
British English: worse /wɜːs/ ADVERB
Worse is the comparative of badly. It means more badly.
American English: worse
Arabic: بِطَرِيقَةٍ أَسْوَأ
Brazilian Portuguese: pior
Chinese: 更坏地
Croatian: gore
Czech: hůř
Danish: værre
Dutch: slechter
European Spanish: peor
Finnish: huonommin
French: pire
German: schlechter
Greek: χειρότερα
Italian: peggio
Japanese: 一層悪く
Korean: 더 나쁘게
Norwegian: verre
Polish: gorzej
European Portuguese: pior
Romanian: mai rău
Russian: хуже
Latin American Spanish: peor
Swedish: värre
Thai: แย่กว่า
Turkish: daha kötüsü
Ukrainian: гірше
Vietnamese: xấu đi
All related terms of 'worse'
bad
Something that is bad is unpleasant, harmful, or undesirable .
badder
not good; of poor quality; inadequate ; inferior
baddest
not good; of poor quality; inadequate ; inferior
badly
If something is done badly or goes badly , it is not very successful or effective .
ill
Someone who is ill is suffering from a disease or a health problem .
illy
badly
worse off
in a worse , esp a worse financial , condition
worse luck!
unhappily; unfortunately
for the worse
into a less desirable or inferior state or condition
make matters worse
If you say that something makes matters worse , you mean that it makes a difficult situation even more difficult.
bad case
A particular case is a particular situation or incident , especially one that you are using as an individual example or instance of something.
badly off
If you are badly off , you are in a bad situation.
bad off
badly off; poor
none the worse for
not harmed by ( adverse events or circumstances )
sb could do worse
If you tell someone that they could do worse than do a particular thing, you are advising them that it would be quite a good thing to do.
the worse for wear
If you say that someone is the worse for wear , you mean that they are tired , ill , or in a bad state because they have been very active , been through a difficult experience , or been drinking alcohol .
for better for worse
whatever the subsequent events or changes may be
go from bad to worse
to deteriorate even more
to change for the worse
If a situation changes for the worse , it becomes more unpleasant or more difficult .
the worse/none the worse for sth
If a person or thing is the worse for something, they have been harmed or badly affected by it. If they are none the worse for it, they have not been harmed or badly affected by it.
all the better (or worse)
so much the better (or worse )
to go from bad to worse
If a situation goes from bad to worse , it becomes even more unpleasant or unsatisfactory .
for better or worse for better or for worse
If you say that something has happened or been done for better or worse , you mean that you are not sure whether the consequences will be good or bad , but they will have to be accepted because the action cannot be changed.
someone's bark is worse than their bite
If you say that someone's bark is worse than their bite , you mean that they seem much more unpleasant or hostile than they really are.
his or her bark is worse than his or her bite
he or she is bad-tempered but harmless
take a turn for the worse/take a turn for the better
If a situation takes a turn for the worse , it suddenly becomes worse. If a situation takes a turn for the better , it suddenly becomes better.
Chinese translation of 'worse'
worse
(wəːs)
adj
(comparative of bad) 更坏(壞)的 (gèng huài de)
adv
(comparative of badly) 更糟地 (gèng zāo de)
n(u)
更坏(壞)的事 (gèng huài de shì)
to get worse逐渐(漸)恶(惡)化 (zhújiàn èhuà)
to go from bad to worse每况(況)愈下 (měi kuàng yù xià)
you could do worse (than to ... )(做 ... )还(還)是不错(錯)的 ((zuò ... ) háishì bùcuò de)
a change for the worse向更坏(壞)方向的转(轉)变(變) (xiàng gèng huài fāngxiàng de zhuǎnbiàn)
he is none the worse for it他并(並)未因此怎么(麼)样(樣) (tā bìng wèi yīncǐ zěnmeyàng)
so much the worse for you!那你就更加不妙！ (Nà nǐ jiù gèngjiā bù miào!)
to speak/think ill of sb讲(講)某人坏(壞)话(話)/认(認)为(為)某人坏(壞) (jiǎng mǒurén huàihuà/rènwéi mǒurén huài)
to fall or be taken ill生病 (shēngbìng)
单词 ill 和 sick 在语意上很相近，但使用方法略有不同。ill 通常不用在名词前，但可用在动词词组中，比如 fall ill 和 be taken ill。 He fell ill shortly before Christmas ... One of the jury members was taken ill.sick 经常用在名词前。 ... sick children ... 在英式英语中，ill 比 sick 更为文雅和委婉。sick 常常指实际的身体病痛，例如晕船或呕吐。 I spent the next 24 hours in bed, groaning and being sick. 美式英语中，sick 经常用在英国人说 ill 的地方。 Some people get hurt in accidents or get sick.
Derived Forms
the illn pl : the mentally/terminally ill精神/晚期病人 (jīngshén/wǎnqī bìngrén)
Derived Forms
illsn pl (frm, liter, = troubles) 弊病 (bìbìng)
All related terms of 'worse'
ill
( sick ) 有病的 yǒubìng de
worse off
( financially ) 收入变(變)少的 shōurù biànshǎo de
to get worse
逐渐(漸)恶(惡)化 zhújiàn èhuà
a sight better/worse
( inf ) 好/坏(壞)得多 hǎo/huài de duō
a change for the worse
向更坏(壞)方向的转(轉)变(變) xiàng gèng huài fāngxiàng de zhuǎnbiàn