scarcely

American  

[skairs-lee] / ˈskɛərs li /

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 British  

/ 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.

Related Words

See hardly.

Etymology

Origin of scarcely

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

Example Sentences

I’ve scarcely made it home and past Mom’s regular “how was your swim” line of questioning when she texts three times in a span of two minutes.

From Literature

Betsie had just passed around a stew so artfully prepared you scarcely missed the meat when, without warning, Mr. Smit leaned back in his chair and pushed the button below the window.

From Literature

He was stomping on ahead of us through the snow with Marlene, and there was scarcely a sign of a limp at all.

From Literature

You could scarcely draw breath, and not every farmer had stopped by the trough on the way here.

From Literature

Below it stretched a long slope of snowy boulders, and beyond that, scarcely a pebble’s throw away, and shimmering in its white winter mantle, lay the Forest.

From Literature

Related Words

• hardly
• rarely
• seldom