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

These behaviors were rarely seen in the absence of cocaine, illustrating how a normally varied set of actions can become restricted to a persistent behavioral pattern, according to a press release. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026

Beneath its upbeat production, the lyrics offer a clever reminder that accountability is rarely one-sided. — Qygwork, Billboard, 28 Sep. 2026

The explosions occurred during an operation to establish a patrol route through an area that had rarely been visited for decades, officials said. — ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026

Steinberg says lateral movement rarely occurs without generating indicators that something unusual is happening. — Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 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