[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/shabby/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [S](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/s/) / shabby

# shabby

adjective (shabby, shabbier, shabbiest)

«shabby» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Shabby means old, worn and untidy from a lot of use. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shabby/#m1)
2. Shabby means dressed in old, worn clothes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shabby/#m2)
3. Shabby means unfair or mean, as in «a shabby trick». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shabby/#m3)
4. (informal) «Not shabby» means quite good. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shabby/#m4)

### In the lessons

In stories: shabby coats, shabby houses show that people are poor or things are old. In everyday talk: «That was a shabby way to treat her». Phrases: «shabby clothes», «shabby treatment», «not too shabby».

### Examples

- He wore a shabby old coat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shabby/#x1)
- The hotel was shabby and needed painting. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shabby/#x2)
- That was a shabby trick to play on your friend. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shabby/#x3)
- The sofa looked shabby but was very comfy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shabby/#x4)
- «Second place? Not too shabby!» said Dad. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shabby/#x5)
- The shabby teddy was her favourite. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shabby/#x6)
- Directly the Princess Badoura saw the prince she recognised him in spite of his shabby clothes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shabby/#x7)

### Note

Comparative: shabbier, shabbiest (y → i). Adverb: shabbily. «Not too shabby» is informal praise.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «shabby» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shabby/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«shabby» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/shabby.html) on Mova free.