Cool MateMeaning of Barely
in a way that is just possible but only with difficulty
In simple words: hardly or only just
Barely in a sentence
- He could barely read and write.
- The music was barely audible.
- She was barely able to stand.
- We barely had time to catch the train.
- She barely acknowledged his presence.
- There was barely any smell.
- Barely 50% of the population voted.
- He was barely 20 years old and already running his own company.
- They arrived barely a minute later.
- I had barely started speaking when he interrupted me.
How to use Barely
Use 'barely' to indicate that something is just enough or hardly the case. It's neutral, appropriate in both casual and formal contexts, but avoid in overly formal writing.
Grammar pattern
barely + verb
Memory hint
Remember 'barely' as 'bare+ly' - you are left with nothing but just a little!
Related words
Collocations with Barely
- barely enough
- barely noticeable
- barely remember
Opposites of Barely
- abundantly
- plentifully
- easily
Common mistakes with Barely
- 'Barely' is often confused with 'scarcely' which is more formal.
- Learners may omit 'barely' and say just 'enough', losing the emphasis.
- Using 'barely' with nouns instead of verbs (incorrect usage).
Barely appears in
Barely in other languages
- Arabicالعربية
بالكاد
بالكاد أو بالكاد
- Bengaliবাংলা
খুব কষ্টে, প্রায় না
খুব কম বা কেবল
- GermanDeutsch
Kaum, Gerade mal
fast gar nicht, nur knapp
- SpanishEspañol
Apenas
casi nada o solo un poco
- Persianفارسی
به سختی، به زحمت
به ندرت یا فقط
- FrenchFrançais
À peine, tout juste
à peine ou juste
- Hindiहिन्दी
मुश्किल से
शायद ही या बस
- ItalianItaliano
Appena, A malapena
quasi per niente o appena
- PortuguesePortuguês
Mal
quase nada ou só um pouquinho
- RussianРусский
Едва, едва ли
почти нет, только что
- Urduاردو
بمشکل، بمشکل سے
بمشکل یا صرف
- Chinese中文
勉强地, 几乎不
几乎不，刚刚好
More words like Barely
- Hardly
- Almost
- AbolishC1
To formally put an end to a system, practice, or institution.
- AbortionC1
the deliberate ending of a pregnancy at an early stage
- AbsenceC1
the fact of somebody being away from a place where they are usually expected to be; the occasion or period of time when somebody is away
- AbsentC1
not in a place because of illness, etc.
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Frequently asked questions about Barely
What does Barely mean?
hardly or only just
What is the definition of Barely?
in a way that is just possible but only with difficulty
How do you use Barely in a sentence?
He could barely read and write.
Can you give another example of Barely?
The music was barely audible.
What are synonyms for Barely?
Common alternatives include hardly, scarcely, just, almost.
What is the opposite of Barely?
Opposite meanings include abundantly, plentifully, easily.
What words go with Barely?
It commonly pairs with barely enough, barely noticeable, barely remember.
What are common mistakes when using Barely?
'Barely' is often confused with 'scarcely' which is more formal. Learners may omit 'barely' and say just 'enough', losing the emphasis. Using 'barely' with nouns instead of verbs (incorrect usage).
How do you pronounce Barely?
US: /["/ˈberli/"]/, UK: /["/ˈbeəli/"]/. Listen to the audio above to hear native pronunciation.
When should I use Barely?
Use 'barely' to indicate that something is just enough or hardly the case. It's neutral, appropriate in both casual and formal contexts, but avoid in overly formal writing.
What CEFR level is Barely?
"Barely" is at B2 level on the CEFR scale.