Hardly: meaning, definitions and examples
๐
hardly
[ หhษหrdli ]
in a difficult manner
With great difficulty or effort; barely. Used to emphasize a minimal degree of quantity, frequency, intensity, etc.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
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hardly |
Used when something is almost not happening or true, indicating a very small degree. It often has a negative connotation.
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barely |
Used to show that something is true or possible, but just by a small margin. It sometimes can imply difficulty.
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scarcely |
Used similarly to 'hardly', indicating that something is almost not true or possible. It has a formal tone and a negative connotation.
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just |
Used to indicate something happened recently, is happening now, or will happen soon. Can also imply 'almost not' or 'exactly'.
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only |
Used to signify a limited amount or to emphasize something is the sole case. It often restricts the scope of a statement.
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Examples of usage
- He could hardly walk after the long journey.
- I can hardly hear you, speak up!
almost not
Almost not at all; scarcely.
Synonyms
almost not, barely, nearly, scarcely.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
hardly |
Identical to the first instance, use 'hardly' in similar minimal or almost non-occurring situations.
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almost not |
This phrase is used to imply that an action or state very nearly did not happen. It is often used in more informal contexts.
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scarcely |
Use 'scarcely' to show that something is very rare or almost not happening. It often has a negative nuance.
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barely |
Use 'barely' to show that something is happening but just by a very small margin. It usually carries a sense of minimal achievement or threshold.
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nearly |
Use 'nearly' to indicate that something was close to happening, but did not fully occur.
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Examples of usage
- I hardly know her, we've only met once.
- They hardly ever go out in the evenings.
Translations
Translations of the word "hardly" in other languages:
๐ต๐น dificilmente
๐ฎ๐ณ เคฎเฅเคถเฅเคเคฟเคฒ เคธเฅ (mushkil se)
๐ฉ๐ช kaum
๐ฎ๐ฉ hampir tidak
๐บ๐ฆ ะปะตะดะฒะต
๐ต๐ฑ ledwo
๐ฏ๐ต ใปใจใใฉ๏ฝใชใ (hotondo ~ nai)
๐ซ๐ท ร peine
๐ช๐ธ apenas
๐น๐ท zar zor
๐ฐ๐ท ๊ฑฐ์ ~ํ์ง ์๋ค (geoui ~haji anhta)
๐ธ๐ฆ ุจุงููุงุฏ (bilkaad)
๐จ๐ฟ sotva
๐ธ๐ฐ sotva
๐จ๐ณ ๅ ไนไธ (jฤซhลซ bรน)
๐ธ๐ฎ komaj
๐ฎ๐ธ varla
๐ฐ๐ฟ ำัะตาฃ (รคriรฑ)
๐ฌ๐ช แแแแฅแแแก แแ (titqmis ar)
๐ฆ๐ฟ รงษtinliklษ
๐ฒ๐ฝ apenas
Etymology
The adverb 'hardly' originated from the Middle English word 'hardli', which meant 'with difficulty'. Over time, the meaning evolved to also include 'scarcely' or 'almost not'. The usage of 'hardly' has been recorded in English literature for centuries, dating back to the 14th century. It has remained a common adverb in modern English, used to indicate a minimal degree or almost non-existent quantity.
See also: hard, hardball, harden, hardening, harder, hardliner, hardness, hardship, hardships, hardware, hardy.