adv

woefully

Woefully (adv) means to a shockingly great or inadequate extent. Example: “The team was woefully underprepared for the final.”

adv

To a shockingly great or inadequate extent.

"The team was woefully underprepared for the final."

How to use woefully

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishUsed to stress just how bad or lacking something is.

Common pairings

woefully inadequate woefully underprepared woefully short of

more woefully comparative, most woefully superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

The team was _____ underprepared for the final.

From Middle English wofully, from woeful plus -ly.

Origin: Middle English

sadly deplorably lamentably

unfortunately sadly happily alas lamentably implore unhappily

gully fully sully bully cully Tully Scully awfully joyfully lawfully hopefully fearfully

What does “woefully” mean?

The word “woefully” means to a shockingly great or inadequate extent. In plain terms, used to stress just how bad or lacking something is.

How do you use “woefully” in a sentence?

Here is “woefully” used in a sentence: “The team was woefully underprepared for the final.”

What part of speech is “woefully”?

“Woefully” is an adverb.

Where does the word “woefully” come from?

The word “woefully” comes from Middle English. From Middle English wofully, from woeful plus -ly.

unfortunately sadly happily alas lamentably implore unhappily