barely

adverb

bare·​ly ˈber-lē How to pronounce barely (audio)
Synonyms of barely
1
: in a meager manner : plainly
a barely furnished room
2
: scarcely, hardly
barely enough money for lunch

Synonyms of barely

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Examples of barely in a Sentence

We barely spoke the entire time we were in the car. There are barely any new features in this software. There is barely a difference between the two.
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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Tate McRae interrupted a run of barely-there sandals with a far more embellished Chanel pair Sunday at the Skylrk World Cup after party at The Twenty Two New York. — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 20 July 2026 Complete your ensemble with a matching pair of loafers, preferably in barely-there mesh—easy-breezy, minimalist chic, just like that. — India Roby, Glamour, 20 July 2026 My show lasts like two hours and that’s barely the first song. — Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026 This murky pour is decidedly brown and so heavily doctored with vitamin C and pectin that the flavor of pineapple is barely detectable. — Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for barely

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1513, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of barely was circa 1513

Rhymes for barely

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Browse Nearby Words

bare-knuckle
barely
baren
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Cite this Entry

“Barely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barely. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on barely

Nglish: Translation of barely for Spanish Speakers

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