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

Of course, figuring out what all a billionaire's stuff is worth — especially assets that rarely change hands — can get complicated. — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 2 Nov. 2026

By turns melodic, minimalist, skippy, quirky, sci-fi, and tough, his penchant for bass programming was rarely stronger than here. — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 2 Nov. 2026

In Lee County, which holds a population of 190,118 people, Jones has been in office for more than 27 years — and he's rarely had an opponent. — News Editor, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026

But, as Gleick reminds us, inventions rarely emerge from a single mind. — Cal Revely-Calder, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 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