Cool MateNot usually vs Rarely
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Not usually
Top 2,000 (common)
Rarely
Top 2,000 (common)B1adverb
| Not usually | Rarely | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //nɒt ˈjuːʒuəli//🇺🇸 //nɑt ˈjuːʒuəli// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈreəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈrerli/"]/ |
| Meaning | Not common or not often. | not very often |
| Example | I do not usually eat breakfast in the morning. | I rarely go to the movies anymore since I prefer watching at home. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | not usually like, not usually seen, not usually done | rarely seen, rarely happens, rarely visit |
| Antonyms | - | frequently, often, regularly |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'never' which means something does not happen at all., Using 'not usually' when you mean 'always' or 'sometimes'., Incorrect word order, e.g., 'usually not' instead of 'not usually'. | Confused with 'rare' — 'rarely' describes frequency, while 'rare' describes how uncommon something is., Using 'rarely' in affirmative sentences instead of negative ones — remember it implies infrequency., Incorrectly placing 'rarely' at the end of a sentence where it should be before the main verb. |
| Usage notes | Use 'not usually' to indicate something that rarely happens. It’s often used in conversation to express frequency. | Used in both spoken and written English. It’s appropriate for discussing habits or occurrences that happen infrequently. Avoid using in very formal contexts where a synonym like 'infrequently' might be more suitable. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Not usually vs Rarely
What's the difference between Not usually and Rarely?
Not usually: Not common or not often. Rarely: not very often
Can you show an example of each?
Not usually: I do not usually eat breakfast in the morning. Rarely: I rarely go to the movies anymore since I prefer watching at home.
Can I use Not usually and Rarely interchangeably?
Not always. Not usually and Rarely are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.