Definition and Usage of Barely | Generated by AI
Question: What does the word “barely” mean?
Answer:
Barely is an adverb that means only just, hardly, or scarcely — expressing that something is true or possible, but only to the smallest or most minimal degree. It conveys the sense of a near miss or a very tight margin.
Core Meanings
1. Only just / almost not possible Used when something is achieved with great difficulty or is only just the case.
- She was barely able to walk.
- We barely had enough time to catch the train.
- His voice was barely audible.
2. Almost not / scarcely Used when something is nearly absent or nearly not happening.
- She was barely aware of his presence.
- There is barely a difference between the two.
- There were barely any seats left.
3. Immediately after / just moments before Used to show one event followed another almost instantly.
- He had barely finished his coffee when she arrived.
- They had barely set up the tents when it started to rain.
4. Surprisingly small amounts or sizes Used before numbers or quantities to stress how small they are.
- Barely 50% of the population voted.
- The village has barely 100 inhabitants.
- He was barely 20 years old.
Synonyms
- Hardly
- Scarcely
- Just
- Only just
- Marginally
Important Grammar Note
Since barely already carries a negative meaning, you should not pair it with another negative word — that would create a double negative.
- ✅ Correct: He had barely had time to think.
- ❌ Incorrect: He hadn’t barely had time to think.
Quick Summary
Barely = almost not, only just, or by the smallest amount possible.
References:
- Merriam-Webster: barely
- Cambridge Dictionary: barely
- Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries: barely
- Longman Dictionary: barely