rarely

adverb

rare·​ly ˈrer-lē How to pronounce rarely (audio)
1
: not often : seldom
2
: with rare skill : excellently
3
: in an extreme or exceptional manner

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
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.
For nearly a decade, Alisia Painter has seen firsthand how the world’s largest cryptocurrency remained largely static – bought, sold, and held, but rarely put to work. Aaron Stanley, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025 From Brigitte Bardot to Charles de Gaulle, French icons were rarely seen without a Gauloises — the archetypal French brand — in hand. Lisa Klaassen, CNN Money, 1 July 2025 Party chair elections are rarely on the radars of high-level party leaders like governors and senators, Jones said, which can end up having unexpected outcomes. Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2025 Pauline’s diminutive redesign has raised plenty of questions, although Nintendo rarely seems interested in providing any answers from DK lore. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 1 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for rarely

Word History

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rarely was in 1549

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Cite this Entry

“Rarely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rarely. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

rarely

adverb
rare·​ly ˈra(ə)r-lē How to pronounce rarely (audio)
ˈre(ə)r-
: not often : seldom

More from Merriam-Webster on rarely

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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