adverb
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hardly at all; only just
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ironic probably not or definitely not
that is scarcely justification for your actions
Usage
See hardly.
Synonym Usage
See hardly.
Etymology
Origin of scarcely
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; see origin at scarce, -ly
Explanation
Scarcely means just before, hardly, or “almost not.” If you had scarcely made it to bed when the sun started to rise, you are probably pretty tired by now. Scarcely may have just made it in the nick of time and by the skin of its teeth, but it’s here now, even if it is just barely hanging on — which means you can scarcely accuse it of not showing up. Though an ly adverb, scarcely is unusual in that it is not so much a descriptor of its root adjective as a synonym of the adverb form scarce. If you scarcely believe me, look it up for yourself!
Vocabulary lists containing scarcely
"Because I Could Not Stop for Death" by Emily Dickinson
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The Monroe Doctrine (1823)
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Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The scarcely legible inscription reads: "Presented to Stan Drew by the committee of the Penarth Central Boxing Club, in appreciation of his loyal service, April 10th 1937."
From BBC • May 25, 2026
As a result of these imports, Denyer notes that much of the capex bonanza is scarcely benefiting U.S.
From MarketWatch • May 8, 2026
Roberts, scarcely beyond his mid-20s, having never lived anywhere other than Indiana, Cambridge, and his fancy summer jobs, was handed the voting rights portfolio, even though he had zero experience working on voting rights issues.
From Slate • May 7, 2026
These are matters of the heart that can only be felt in the dark of the theater, watching such wonderfully realized characters weigh the cost of loving their work in a world that scarcely reciprocates.
From Salon • May 1, 2026
Penelope thought of the window seats at the Swanburne Academy, which were so full of embroidered pillows that one could scarcely find a place to sit and read.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
