rarely

[rair-lee]

adverb

1. on rare occasions; infrequently; seldom.

   I'm rarely late for appointments.

2. exceptionally; in an unusual degree.

3. unusually or remarkably well; excellent.

rarely

/ ˈrɛəlɪ /

adverb

1. hardly ever; seldom

   I'm rarely in town these days

2. to an unusual degree; exceptionally

3. dialect,  uncommonly well; excellently

   he did rarely at market yesterday

Usage

Since rarely means hardly ever , one should not say something rarely ever happens

Word History and Origins

Origin of rarely¹

First recorded in 1515–25; rare ¹ + -ly

Example Sentences

Ms. Rinehart, whose podcast, “The Female Body Politic,” spotlights women’s history, canters through Rankin’s career with the same drive that Rankin exhibited, batting away critics and rarely acknowledging the complexity of federal politics.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Even well-meaning efforts by professionals—such as the “diet and exercise” counsel typically offered by doctors—rarely produced durable weight loss.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

French police have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and civilians.

Read more on BBC

Tickets for corporate areas, which rarely sell out, have been reduced in price meaning paying inflated sums to touts is unnecessary.

Read more on BBC

Affordability for a government is rarely an absolute, it is a judgement about what is a priority at any given moment and therefore what isn't.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• barely 
• hardly 
• infrequently www.thesaurus.com
• seldom