worse
wurs
Worse (adj) means More bad; of lower quality, more severe, or less desirable, than something already bad. Example: “The weather got worse as the afternoon went on, so we went home.”
adj
1
More bad; of lower quality, more severe, or less desirable, than something already bad.
"The weather got worse as the afternoon went on, so we went home."
"The traffic today was even worse than yesterday."
"His handwriting is worse than mine, and that's saying something."
noun
1
Something less good; a worse state or outcome.
"They've seen worse and come through it."
"If the weather turns, we may face worse tomorrow than we saw today."
"Things looked bad at first, but the doctor said she had expected worse."
How to use worse
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe comparative of "bad" — more bad than something else.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "worst" (the superlative): "This is worse than that one" vs "This is the worst of all."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
worse off
from bad to worse
none the worse
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- worses
- Past tense
- worsed
Fill the gap
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The weather got _____ as the afternoon went on, so we went home.
Etymology
From Old English wiersa, the comparative form behind modern "bad" (which borrows its comparative and superlative from a different root, much like "good"/"better"/"best").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for worse
See all rhymes for worse →Frequently asked questions
What does “worse” mean?
The word “worse” means more bad; of lower quality, more severe, or less desirable, than something already bad. In plain terms, the comparative of "bad" — more bad than something else.
How do you pronounce “worse”?
“Worse” is pronounced wurs (/wɝs/ in IPA).
How do you use “worse” in a sentence?
Here is “worse” used in a sentence: “The traffic today was even worse than yesterday.”
What part of speech is “worse”?
Depending on how it is used, “worse” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “worse” come from?
The word “worse” comes from Old English. From Old English wiersa, the comparative form behind modern "bad" (which borrows its comparative and superlative from a different root, much like "good"/"better"/"best").
Is “worse” a common word?
“Worse” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “worse” have?
“Worse” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: more bad; of lower quality, more severe, or less desirable, than something already bad.
What is the difference between worse and worst?
'Worse' compares two things and means more bad than the other — it is the comparative form. 'Worst' is the superlative and means the most bad of all, three or more. So one bad day can be worse than another, but only one can be the worst of them all.
Is 'worser' a real word?
No, 'worser' is considered incorrect in modern English. 'Worse' is already the comparative form of 'bad', so adding '-er' doubles it up. Although 'worser' appears in some old texts, including Shakespeare, today you should simply use 'worse'. The same logic makes 'more worse' wrong as well.
What is the opposite of worse?
The opposite of 'worse' is 'better', the comparative of 'good'. Just as worse means more bad than something already bad, better means more good than something already good. If a situation stops declining and improves, you would say it is getting better rather than worse.
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