Barely
/ˈbɛərli/
adverbBeginnerCommonGeneral
Meaning
Question
Definitions
1
To a minimal degree; scarcely.
/ˈbɛərli/
adverbneutralBeginner
General
By the smallest amount; only just.
She barely escaped injury.
💡 Simply: Just a little bit.
More Examples
2
I barely knew him.
How It's Used
Everyday Conversation
"I barely had time to catch the bus."
Academic Writing
"The experiment barely yielded any significant results."
From Middle English *barelich, from Old English *bærlīċe, from *bær 'bare' + -līċe.
The word has maintained a relatively consistent meaning throughout its history, primarily focusing on the minimal amount of something.
Memory tip
Think of being 'bare' and having only the minimum necessary.
Practice
Base: bare
barlybareley
Usage
60%Spoken
40%Written