rarely

adverb

rare·​ly ˈrer-lē 

1

: not often : seldom

2

: with rare skill : excellently

3

: in an extreme or exceptional manner

Synonyms of rarely

• seldom

Examples of rarely in a Sentence

She rarely talks about her past.

Rarely do we see this kind of weather in our area.

Only rarely is surgery necessary to treat this condition.

Recent Examples on the Web

McKinsey research has found that 70% of organizational transformations fail, and that the barriers are rarely technical. — Tracy Lawrence, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

The meteor shower rarely produces more than 5 meteors an hour, according to the American Meteor Society. — Julia Gomez, USA Today, 2 July 2026

Under coach Sergej Barbarez, a former professional poker player, the gritty Bosnians rarely gamble, instead playing a disciplined and physical style that emphasizes compactness and swift counterattacks. — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

Hearing loss develops gradually, so there’s rarely a clear moment that signals something’s wrong. — Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing rarely

• rarely/seldom ever
• rarely/seldom if ever

Rhymes for rarely

• unfairly
• barely
• fairly
• squarely

Kids Definition

rarely

adverb

rare·​ly ˈra(ə)r-lē 

ˈre(ə)r-

: not often : seldom