Search results
Six meanings
- There are six meanings listed in OED's entry for the adverb barely, one of which is labelled obsolete.
Check pronunciation: barely. Definition of barely adverb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
barely. (beəʳli ) 1. adverb [ADVERB before verb] B2. You use barely to say that something is only just true or only just the case. Anastasia could barely remember the ride to the hospital. It was 90 degrees and the air conditioning barely cooled the room. His voice was barely audible.
The meaning of BARELY is in a meager manner : plainly. How to use barely in a sentence.
Definitions of 'barely'. 1. You use barely to say that something is only just true or only just the case. [...] 2. If you say that one thing had barely happened when something else happened, you mean that the first event was followed immediately by the second. [...]
'Barely' tends to convey a sense of magnitude of final achievement. ie the actual limit or magnitude is the primary focus. 'Hardly' tends to convey a sense of just adequate performance to cause a limit to be reached. ie the focus shifts subtly towards the reason for the limit only just being exceeded.
People also ask
How many meanings does the adverb barely have?
What does barely mean?
How do you use barely in a sentence?
What is the difference between 'hardly' and 'barely'?
What does a bit bare mean?
What if one thing had barely happened when something else happened?
BARELY : (adverb) Meanings : 1. just enough 2. with nothing left over Example Sentences : 1. We barely talked to each other. 2. They barely knew each other last year. 3. My parents have barely enough food for one month.