Scarcely: meaning, definitions and examples

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scarcely

[ˈskɛəsli ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Adverb}

in a negative sense

Only just; almost not. Used to suggest that something is unlikely or not the case.

Synonyms

almost not, barely, hardly.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
scarcely	Used to indicate that something happens very rarely or to a minimal extent. Often implies that something is just enough or barely adequate. She had scarcely finished her meal when she had to leave. There is scarcely enough food for everyone.
barely	Indicates that something happens to a very small degree or is only just enough. It's often used when the situation is just above a certain threshold. She could barely see through the fog. They barely escaped the burning building.
hardly	Suggests something occurs very infrequently or minimally. Often used to emphasize that something is almost nonexistent. She hardly knew anyone at the party. I could hardly hear what he was saying.
almost not	Used when something nearly doesn’t happen or is almost nonexistent. It often suggests a situation that was very close to not occurring. He almost didn’t make it to the meeting. The pain was almost not noticeable.

Examples of usage

I had scarcely put the phone down when it rang again.
She could scarcely believe her eyes when she saw the mess.
He had scarcely enough money to pay for the bus.

^{Context #2 | Adverb}

in a formal sense

As much as possible; very little.

Synonyms

barely, hardly.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
scarcely	Repeated word – refer to the first 'scarcely' for details.
hardly	Used when something is almost not true or almost not happening. It usually suggests a slight degree of the action taking place. I can hardly hear you She hardly ever goes out these days
barely	Used to describe something that is just enough or almost not enough. It often implies that the situation is narrowly within the limits. He barely passed the exam We barely made it to the airport on time

Word

Description / Examples

scarcely

Repeated word – refer to the first 'scarcely' for details.

hardly

Used when something is almost not true or almost not happening. It usually suggests a slight degree of the action taking place.

I can hardly hear you
She hardly ever goes out these days

barely

Used to describe something that is just enough or almost not enough. It often implies that the situation is narrowly within the limits.

He barely passed the exam
We barely made it to the airport on time

Examples of usage

He was scarcely able to contain his excitement.
They had scarcely started eating when the phone rang.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Old English 'scars', which means 'rare' or 'scarce'.
It has roots in the Proto-Germanic word 'skarsaz', which also means 'scarce' or 'sparse'.
Over time, 'scarcely' evolved from meaning rare to its current use of indicating something that almost does not happen.

Literature

Classic literature often uses the term to enhance dramatic situations, indicating a lack or minimal presence.
Famous authors like Charles Dickens and Virginia Woolf employed the word to evoke emotions of desperation or longing.
In poetry, 'scarcely' can create a pang of sadness, emphasizing absence or loss within a verse.

Psychology

Studies show that when people describe their experiences as 'scarcely' occurring, it can indicate heightened emotional states.
Using this word can reflect cognitive biases where individuals focus only on the few times something did not happen.
The word is linked to feelings of scarcity, which can affect mental health by increasing anxiety or fear of loss.

Everyday Usage

'Scarcely' is often used in conversation to emphasize the rarity of an event, like 'I scarcely go out these days.'
In common phrases, it's paired with words like 'ever' or 'anyone', enhancing the tone of disbelief or surprise.
Many native speakers use it to describe situations that are not just unlikely but almost impossible.

Pop Culture

The term appears in song lyrics to highlight feelings of loneliness or infrequency in relationships.
Film dialogue frequently includes 'scarcely' to reflect characters' doubt or disbelief about a situation.
It can invoke a sense of drama and intensity in political speeches by emphasizing rare occurrences that affect society.

Translations

Translations of the word "scarcely" in other languages:

🇵🇹 raramente

🇮🇳 किसी तरह से

🇩🇪 kaum

🇮🇩 nyaris tidak

🇺🇦 ледве

🇵🇱 ledwie

🇯🇵 ほとんどない

🇫🇷 à peine

🇪🇸 apenas

🇹🇷 güçlükle

🇰🇷 거의 없는

🇸🇦 بصعوبة

🇨🇿 stěží

🇸🇰 ťažko

🇨🇳 几乎没有

🇸🇮 komaj

🇮🇸 varla

🇰🇿 қиындықпен

🇬🇪 ორივით არა

🇦🇿 çətinliklə

🇲🇽 apenas

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,884, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.

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