51Թ

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View synonyms for

scarcely

[skairs-lee]

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

/ ˈɛəɪ /

adverb

  1. hardly at all; only just

  2. ironicprobably not or definitely not

    that is scarcely justification for your actions

“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
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Usage

See hardly.
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of scarcely1

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

See hardly.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The most worrisome fact, though, may be that the warming of the planet has scarcely begun.

From

For his father Garry, it is a moment he can scarcely believe.

From

Hours before he hiked the duties, many firms directly affected could scarcely believe the plan was moving forward, hoping it would turn out to be temporary or some kind of negotiating ploy.

From

After jumping from one relationship to the next, Melissa Febos found herself in bed with a woman she scarcely knew.

From

Apart from Hugo’s asking for “help with the cold cuts” or inquiring whether everyone’s cool with reusing plates, there is a scarcely a line in which people talk like people; it is all theatrical declaration.

From

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scarce as hen's teethscarcely ever