scarcely

adverb

scarce·​ly ˈskers-lē 

1

a

: by a narrow margin : only just

… had scarcely rung the bell when the door flew open …

—Agnes S. Turnbull

b

: almost not

could scarcely see for the fog

2

a

: certainly not

could scarcely interfere

b

: probably not

… there could scarcely have been found a leader better equipped …

—V. L. Parrington

Synonyms of scarcely

• barely
• slightly
• just

Examples of scarcely in a Sentence

He could scarcely control his joy.

Scarcely a day goes by when they don't see or talk to each other.

He had scarcely enough money.

This is scarcely a time to laugh.

I could scarcely tell them they were wrong.

Recent Examples on the Web

In the book, the children have scarcely found food and shelter before the two sisters decide to teach their younger brother to read. — Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026

The World's Most Famous Arena, a place wreaking of hot dogs and athletic glory, had been so thoroughly transformed that one scarcely recognised it. — Bryan West, USA Today, 7 July 2026

By the time peace arrived, American lawyers practiced in a legal world that scarcely resembled the one in which most of them had begun their careers. — Joseph Andrew, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026

What righty Cade Cavalli shouted at Willson Contreras drifted into the Boston night, fading just beyond the field’s ears and scarcely repeated by the mouths of those who heard. — Noah White, Washington Post, 1 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing scarcely

• hardly/scarcely than

Kids Definition

scarcely

adverb

scarce·​ly

ˈske(ə)rs-lē, 

ˈska(ə)rs-

1

: by a narrow margin : only just

had scarcely made the train in time

2

a

: certainly not

could scarcely tell them they were wrong

b

: probably not

could scarcely have chosen a better leader