barely
//ˈbɛə.li//
Forms
- Comparative
- more barely
- Superlative
- most barely
Definitions
1.By a small margin.
- I barely completed my homework. However, I got a score of 5 for it.
- As our train to Paris dashed through the labyrynthine flyovers at Porchefontaine, barely a mile from Versailles, the 75 m.p.h. limit was already almost attained.
2.Almost not at all.
- The plane is so far away now I can barely see it.
- Yes, it is barely visible.
- In contrast to what was to come, City were barely allowed any time to settle on the ball in the opening exchanges, with Ashley Young prominent and drawing heavy fouls from Micah Richards and James Milner.
3.Recently, just now.
- I barely got to the store.
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #2083
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Etymology
From Middle English baarly, bareliche, barely, barly, from Old English bærlīċe, equivalent to bare + -ly.
Compare Danish bare (“only, just”), Norwegian bare (“only, just”).