barely

American  

[bair-lee] / ˈbɛər li /

adverb

1. only just; scarcely; no more than; almost not.

   He had barely enough money to pay for the car.

2. without disguise or concealment; openly.

   They gave the facts to him barely.

3. scantily; meagerly; sparsely.

4. Archaic. merely.

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barely British  

/ ˈbɛəlɪ /

adverb

1. only just; scarcely

   barely enough for their needs

2. informal not quite; nearly

   barely old enough

3. scantily; poorly

   barely furnished

4. archaic openly

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Usage

See hardly.

Etymology

Origin of barely

First recorded before 950; Middle English; Old English bærlīce; bare ¹, -ly

Example Sentences

Cooper came down with it and barely dragged one foot in bounds for the game-winning touchdown.

From The Wall Street Journal

Bigotry has become so routine it barely registers.

From Salon

Duane found himself turning one way, then spinning quickly around barely in time to see the fox dash between his legs and disappear into yet another hole.

From Literature

Mama was a little woman, barely tipping the scales at a hundred pounds; but what she lacked in height and weight, she made up in strength and spirit.

From Literature

Rupert was a rickety old man, barely able to walk; yet he still worked with a pickax in the mines.

From Literature

Related Words

• almost
• hardly
• scarcely