rarely

adverb

rare·​ly ˈrer-lē 

1

: not often : seldom

2

: with rare skill : excellently

3

: in an extreme or exceptional manner

Synonyms

• 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

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

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