Finesentence logo

Scarcely: meaning, definitions and examples

๐ŸŒŸ
Add to dictionary

scarcely

 

[ หˆskษ›ษ™sli ]

Adverb
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

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

Examples of usage

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

Translations

Translations of the word "scarcely" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น raramente

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค•เคฟเคธเฅ€ เคคเคฐเคน เคธเฅ‡

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช kaum

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ nyaris tidak

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะปะตะดะฒะต

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ ledwie

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใปใจใ‚“ใฉใชใ„

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท ร  peine

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ apenas

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท gรผรงlรผkle

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ฑฐ์˜ ์—†๋Š”

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุจุตุนูˆุจุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ stฤ›ลพรญ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ ลฅaลพko

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅ‡ ไนŽๆฒกๆœ‰

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ komaj

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ varla

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ า›ะธั‹ะฝะดั‹า›ะฟะตะฝ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒแƒ แƒ˜แƒ•แƒ˜แƒ— แƒแƒ แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ รงษ™tinliklษ™

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ apenas

Etymology

The word 'scarcely' originated from the Middle English word 'scarsly', which evolved from the Old French word 'escars' meaning 'barely'. It has been used in the English language since the 14th century. The adverb 'scarcely' has been commonly used in literature, particularly in formal and narrative contexts, to convey a sense of limitation or insufficiency.

See also: scarcity.

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.