worse

worse
worse1 [wə:s US wə:rs] adj
[: Old English; Origin: wiersa, wyrsa]
1.) [the comparative of bad]
more unpleasant, bad, or severe
→↑better worse than
▪ The violence was worse than we expected.
▪ The traffic is much worse after five o'clock.
▪ The weather was a lot worse this year.
▪ Conditions will get worse as the winter continues.
▪ High inflation will make unemployment worse .
▪ Don't say anything, you'll only make matters worse .
▪ The bullying got worse and worse until finally he had to leave the school.
▪ There's nothing worse than being robbed while you're on holiday.
▪ The school's not perfect, but I suppose it could be worse .
2.) more ill than before
▪ If she's worse in the morning, I'll call the doctor.
▪ I was worried because he seemed to be getting worse rather than better.
▪ The tablets seemed to make him worse .
3.) be none the worse for sth
to not have been harmed by something
▪ She seemed none the worse for her night out in the cold.
4.) worse luck
spoken used to say that you are disappointed or annoyed by something
▪ I've got one more year of college, worse luck!
5.) sb could do worse than do sth
spoken used to say that you think that someone should do something
▪ He could do worse than marry Eleanor.
6.) go from bad to worse
to continue getting worse
▪ Things went from bad to worse , and in the end she lost her job.
7.) the worse for wear also the worse for drink BrE
informal drunk
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GRAMMAR
Worse is a comparative form : The problem got worse and worse.
!! Do not say 'more worse' or 'worser'.
Worst is a superlative form : the worst film (NOT worse film) I have ever seen
!! Do not say 'most worst' or 'worstest'.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
worse 2
worse2 n [U]
1.) something worse
→↑better
▪ We thought the situation was bad, but worse was to follow.
2.) take a turn for the worse
to change and become worse
▪ Last year his health took a turn for the worse.
worse 3
worse3 adv [the comparative of badly]
in a more severe or serious way than before
→↑better worse than
▪ By lunch time it was raining worse than ever.
[sentence adverb]
▪ The business could become less profitable or, even worse , could close down.
▪ Suppose Rose, or worse still , Peter had seen the photograph?

Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Worse — Worse, a., compar. of {Bad}. [OE. werse, worse, wurse, AS. wiersa, wyrsa, a comparative with no corresponding positive; akin to OS. wirsa, OFries. wirra, OHG. wirsiro, Icel. verri, Sw. v[ a]rre, Dan. v[ a]rre, Goth. wa[ i]rsiza, and probably to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • worse — ► ADJECTIVE 1) less good, satisfactory, or pleasing. 2) more serious or severe. 3) more ill or unhappy. ► ADVERB 1) less well. 2) more seriously or severely. ► NOUN ▪ …   English terms dictionary

  • worse — [wʉrs] adj. [ME < OE wiersa (used as compar. of yfel, bad, EVIL), akin to OHG wirsiro, prob. < base of OHG & OS werran, to confuse] 1. compar. of BAD1 & ILL1 2. a) bad, evil, harmful, unpleasant, etc. in a greater degree; …   English World dictionary

  • Worse — Worse, n. 1. Loss; disadvantage; defeat. Judah was put to the worse before Israel. Kings xiv. 12. [1913 Webster] 2. That which is worse; something less good; as, think not the worse of him for his enterprise. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Worse — Worse, adv. [AS. wiers, wyrs; akin to OS. & OHG. wirs, Icel. verr, Goth, wa[ i]rs; a comparative adverb with no corresponding positive. See {Worse}, a.] In a worse degree; in a manner more evil or bad. [1913 Webster] Now will we deal worse with… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Worse — Worse, v. t. [OE. wursien, AS. wyrsian to become worse.] To make worse; to put disadvantage; to discomfit; to worst. See {Worst}, v. [1913 Webster] Weapons more violent, when next we meet, May serve to better us and worse our foes. Milton. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • worse — O.E. wiersa, wyrsa, from P.Gmc. *wers izon (Cf. O.S. wirs, O.N. verri, Swed. värre, O.Fris. wirra, O.H.G. wirsiro, Goth. wairsiza worse ), comparative of PIE *wers to confuse, mix up (Cf. O.H.G. werra strife, O.S …   Etymology dictionary

  • worse — worse·ment; worse·ness; worse; …   English syllables

  • worse — comparative of ILL …   Medical dictionary

  • worse — 1 adjective 1 (the comparative of bad) not as good as someone or something else, or more unpleasant or of a lower standard: The meal couldn t have been much worse. | worse than: The weather was worse than last year. | there s nothing worse than… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

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