hardly

American  

[hahrd-lee] / ˈhɑrd li /

adverb

1. only just; almost not; barely.

   We had hardly reached the lake when it started raining. hardly any; hardly ever.

2. not at all; scarcely.

   That report is hardly surprising.

3. with little likelihood.

   He will hardly come now.

4. forcefully or vigorously.

5. with pain or difficulty.

6. British. harshly or severely.

7. hard.

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hardly British  

/ ˈhɑːdlɪ /

adverb

1. scarcely; barely

   we hardly knew the family

2. just; only just

   he could hardly hold the cup

3. ironic almost or probably not or not at all

   he will hardly incriminate himself

4. with difficulty or effort

5. rare harshly or cruelly

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Usage

Hardly, barely, and scarcely all have a negative connotation, and the use of any of them with a negative like can't or couldn't is often condemned as a double negative and thus considered nonstandard: I can't hardly wait. Such constructions do occur occasionally in the speech of educated persons, often with jocular intent ( You can't hardly get that kind any more ) but are not found in formal speech or writing. When hardly in the sense “only just, almost not” is followed by a clause, the usual word to introduce the clause is when: The telephone had hardly stopped ringing when (not than ) the doorbell rang. See also double negative.

Since hardly, scarcely, and barely already have negative force, it is redundant to use another negative in the same clause: he had hardly had (not he hadn't hardly had ) time to think; there was scarcely any (not scarcely no ) bread left

Related Words

Hardly, barely, scarcely imply a narrow margin by which performance was, is, or will be achieved. Hardly, though often interchangeable with scarcely and barely, usually emphasizes the idea of the difficulty involved: We could hardly endure the winter. Barely emphasizes the narrowness of the margin of safety, “only just and no more”: We barely succeeded. Scarcely implies a very narrow margin, below satisfactory performance: He can scarcely read.

Etymology

Origin of hardly

1175–1225; Middle English; Old English heardlice. See hard, -ly

Example Sentences

"I think there should be something in place… I know it happens in football, guys hardly drink before the game, I think it will be the same in cricket within four or five years."

From BBC

Root's position as one of the all-time greats is hardly news to the cricketing public.

From BBC

While his interviewees are hardly disinterested observers, several persistent themes emerge from their comments.

From The Wall Street Journal

The two centuries could hardly have been more different.

From BBC

I already finished reading all the books I checked out, which Mom could hardly believe, but I’m ready for more.

From Literature

Related Words

• barely
• comparatively
• practically
• rarely
• seldom
• simply
• somewhat