rarely/seldom ever

phrase

: almost never : rarely
We seldom ever dine out these days.
She rarely ever drinks wine.

Note: Some people regard rarely ever and seldom ever as incorrect, but these phrases are common in speech and in informal writing.

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Cite this Entry

“Rarely/seldom ever.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rarely%2Fseldom%20ever. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.

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