Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
A terrible experience or situation is very serious or very unpleasant.
Tens of thousands more suffered terrible injuries in the world's worst industrial disaster...
I often have the most terrible nightmares...
= dreadful
ADJ
• terribly
My son has suffered terribly. He has lost his best friend.
ADV: ADV after v
2.
If something is terrible, it is very bad or of very poor quality.
She admits her French is terrible.
= dreadful
ADJ
3.
You use terrible to emphasize the great extent or degree of something.
I was a terrible fool, you know. I remember that now...
ADJ: ADJ n [emphasis]
• terribly
I'm terribly sorry to bother you at this hour...
ADV: usu ADV adj