rarely/seldom ever

idiom

: almost never : rarely
We seldom ever dine out these days.
She rarely ever drinks wine.

Note: Some people regard rarely ever and seldom ever as incorrect, but these phrases are common in speech and in informal writing.

Examples of rarely/seldom ever in a Sentence

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.
True clarity rarely ever comes in the middle of chaos. Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025 For starters, the entire investigative file created by the DOJ and the FBI is seldom ever presented to the grand jury. Nick Akerman, New York Daily News, 24 July 2025 Whether at a mall’s food court or wandering the fair grounds, cheese on a stick, that unsung hero of showy fair food, rarely ever misses. Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 22 July 2025 In all his years of inviting his favorite bands to perform in his space, Paul says he’s rarely ever been turned down. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for rarely/seldom ever

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rarely/seldom ever.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rarely%2Fseldom%20ever. Accessed 31 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!