hardly
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.hard·ly
adverb \ˈhärd-lē\Definition of HARDLY
1
: with force : vigorously
2
: in a severe manner : harshly
3
: with difficulty : painfully
4
a —used to emphasize a minimal amount <I hardly knew her> <almost new — hardly a scratch on it> b —used to soften a negative <you can't hardly tell who anyone is — G. B. Shaw>
5
: certainly not <that news is hardly surprising>
See Usage Discussion of HARDLY
Hardly in sense 5 is used sometimes with not for emphasis <just another day at the office? Not hardly>. In sense 4b with a negative verb (as can't, wouldn't, didn't) it does not make a double negative but softens the negative. In “you can't hardly find a red one,” the sense is that you can find a red one, but only with difficulty; in “you can't find a red one,” the sense is that red ones are simply not available. Use of hardly with a negative verb is a speech form; it is most commonly heard in Southern and Midland speech areas. In other speech areas and in all discursive prose, hardly is normally used with a positive <you can hardly find a red one>.
Examples of HARDLY
- It hardly matters what I think.
- The changes in service have hardly been noticed.
- There are hardly any new features in this software.
- Hardly anyone showed up for the meeting.
- Hardly a day goes by when I don't think about you.
- This is hardly a new idea for a movie.
- “Is this a new idea for a movie?” “Hardly! I've seen dozens of movies just like it.”
First Known Use of HARDLY
before 12th century
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Previous Word in the Dictionary: hard–luck
All Words Near: hardly
Previous Word in the Dictionary: hard–luck
All Words Near: hardly
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