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

• 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

At Wembley the previous March, Newcastle fans had won the weekend in London, turning Trafalgar Square into a boozy tableau of black-and-white mayhem, but the team had scarcely turned up for their Carabao Cup final against Manchester United. —George Caulkin, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025

But McCormick’s family said the man could scarcely write. —Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025

His general advice to people attempting to craft humane, precise, and literate prose has scarcely aged, and his own bracing style still informs and delights. —Ben Yagoda, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025

The finish to a season is scarcely more predictive than the start of the season. —Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th 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