Barely - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Barely means only just or almost not. It indicates that something is at the minimum limit, such as She barely passed the test or He barely arrived on time.
Definition:
Only just; almost not.
Synonyms:
scarcely, hardly, just, narrowly
Part of Speech:
adverb
Antonyms:
fully, completely, abundantly
Common Collocations:
barely enough, barely visible, barely audible, barely noticeable, barely awake
Derivatives:
bareness, bared
Usage Tips:
Use "barely" to emphasize something is almost not happening or just sufficient.
Common Phrases:
barely there, barely made it, barely a whisper
Etymology:
From Old English "bærlic," meaning "openly" or "plainly," later evolving to mean "scarcely."
Examples:
- 1. She barely passed the exam after studying all night.
- 2. He could barely hear the whisper in the noisy room.
- 3. The light was so dim it was barely visible.
- 4. They arrived barely on time for the meeting.