Barely
/ˈbɛərli/
adverbBeginner📊CommonQuantity
1 meaning1 question
Definitions
1
To a minimal degree; scarcely.
/ˈbɛərli/
adverbneutralBeginner
Quantity
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."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms
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.
Word Origin
LanguageOld English
Original meaning
"bare"
Base: bare
barely enoughbarely visiblebarely alive
Common misspellings
barlybareley
Practice
Usage
60%Spoken
40%Written