scarcely

[skairs-lee]

adverb

1. barely; hardly; not quite.

   The light is so dim we can scarcely see.

2. definitely not.

   This is scarcely the time to raise such questions.

3. probably not.

   You could scarcely have chosen better.

scarcely

/ ˈskɛəslɪ /

adverb

1. hardly at all; only just

2. ironic,  probably not or definitely not

   that is scarcely justification for your actions

Usage

See hardly.

Word History and Origins

Origin of scarcely¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; scarce, -ly

Synonym Study

See hardly.

Example Sentences

Rangers deserve credit for their doggedness in a crisis - and that's pretty much all you can say about a game that will scarcely see out the night in the memory bank.

From BBC

Putbacks in the paint became reruns in her mind, and Hollingdale said the brain scarcely knows the difference: If it sees it vividly enough, the muscles prime themselves as if the movement truly happened.

From Los Angeles Times

Meanwhile, Chris Davies' first season in management could scarcely have gone better as he led Birmingham City to a record-breaking 111 points as they won the League One title.

From BBC

The couple already had five rescue cats; they scarcely had room for a 40-pound Labrador-pit bull mix on top of that.

From Los Angeles Times

Paris St-Germain have been swatting aside all-comers all season, from wrapping up the Ligue 1 title in early April to demolishing Inter Milan in a Champions League final so one-sided it was scarcely believable.

From BBC

Related Words

• hardly 
• rarely 
• seldom