scarce

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Idioms about scarce

make oneself scarce, Informal.

to depart, especially suddenly.
to stay away; avoid.

Origin of scarce

1250–1300; Middle English scars<Old North French (e)scars<Vulgar Latin *excarpsus plucked out, for Latin excerptus;see excerpt

OTHER WORDS FROM scarce

scarceness, nounun·scarce, adjectiveun·scarce·ly, adverbun·scarce·ness, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH scarce

extinct, rare, scarce

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use scarce in a sentence

Gems are far scarcer, but anytime a player is running low, they can always open their wallet and buy some.
A Game Called The Tribez: Inside the City-Building Behemoth|Alec Kubas-Meyer|October 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It has all the makings of a titanic struggle over scarce resources and even scarcer public acclaim.
In Sandy’s Aftermath, Chris Christie, Andrew Cuomo Make Unlikely Team|David Freedlander|November 30, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Information that content providers and retailers depend on could become scarcer.
The Internet's Doomsday Scenario|Thomas E. Weber|November 9, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Great art, and film especially, is accessible to everyone, whereas great artists are much scarcer.
How Polanski Could Help the Right|Ben Crair|October 3, 2009|DAILY BEAST

Geological reality, not Waxman-Markey, is what is making energy “scarcer and more expensive.”
Palin vs. the Planet|Edward Markey|July 17, 2009|DAILY BEAST
But now their work was harder, and food was scarcer—for game is difficult to shoot in the forest.
The Devil-Tree of El Dorado|Frank Aubrey
No true gourmet would ever send this warbler to the shambles so long as scarcer birds might be obtained.
The Fiend's Delight|Dod Grile
As these books are placed in great libraries they naturally become scarcer each year.
Prices of Books|Henry B. Wheatley
This edition is scarcer than the second, owing to the copies having been destroyed in the Fire of London.
Prices of Books|Henry B. Wheatley
Very well, then it will be best for you to remain here and not come to Tradum or Nyuku; provisions are still scarcer there.
Trans-Himalaya, Vol. 2 (of 2)|Sven Hedin

British Dictionary definitions for scarce

scarce

/ (skɛəs) /

adjective

rarely encountered

insufficient to meet the demand

make oneself scarce informal to go away, esp suddenly

adverb

archaic, or literary scarcely

Derived forms of scarce

scarceness, noun

Word Origin for scarce

C13: from Old Norman French scars, from Vulgar Latin excarpsus (unattested) plucked out, from Latin excerpere to select; see excerpt

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with scarce

scarce

In addition to the idiom beginning with scarce

scarce as hen's teeth
scarcely ever

also see:

make oneself scarce

scarce

OTHER WORDS FOR scarce

OPPOSITES FOR scarce

Idioms about scarce

Origin of scarce

OTHER WORDS FROM scarce

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH scarce

Words related to scarce

How to use scarce in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for scarce

Derived forms of scarce

Word Origin for scarce

Other Idioms and Phrases with scarce