Scarcely
/ˈskɛərsli/
adverbB2
Definition
Scarcely is an adverb used to say that something happens in a very small amount or almost does not happen. It shows that there is very little of something or something is just barely true. It often means "almost not" or "only just."
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See It in Action
Almost not; only just
- •She scarcely had time to finish her work before the meeting.
- •The town was so small that it scarcely had a grocery store.
- •He could scarcely believe the news when he heard it.
Very rarely or almost never (less common)
- •They scarcely ever go out to eat these days.
- •I scarcely remember my childhood because it was so long ago.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "scarcely" like "hardly" (A2 word), but sometimes a bit more formal or stronger in meaning.
- ✓Picture a small drop of water almost disappearing on a dry surface—very little water is there.
- ✓It’s the feeling when you almost miss a bus by just a second—you scarcely caught it.
- ✓Sounds like "SCARE-sly" → imagine being so scared that you barely do something, just a little bit.
- ✓In stories, a character might scarcely survive a dangerous situation, meaning they just made it barely.
- ✓NOT like "often" (many times)—scarcely means very few times or almost never.
- ✓NOT like "completely" (fully)—scarcely means only a little, not fully or completely.
Try Other Words
- •Barely: only just; almost not (Use when something happens but only by a very small amount)
- •Hardly: almost not; very little (Use in casual speech to express the same idea as scarcely)
- •Almost not: nearly did not happen or exist (Use to explain meaning clearly in simple words)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "scarce" (meaning rare or little) + suffix "-ly" (makes an adverb)
- •Etymology: From Old French "escars" meaning scarce or rare, from Latin "excarpsus" meaning plucked out or rare
- •Historical development: Used in English since the 1500s to mean "rarely" or "almost not"
- •Modern usage: Used to show that something happens very little or almost does not happen, often in formal or written English
Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of a time when you scarcely had enough time to do something? How did it feel?
•How does using "scarcely" change the meaning of a sentence compared to just saying "not"?
Fill in the blanks
1.She scarcely ___ enough money to buy the ticket, so she had to ask for help.
2.The weather was so bad that they scarcely ___ outside all day.
3.I could scarcely ___ what he was saying because the music was too loud.
4.Unlike "often," scarcely means something happens ___ or almost not at all.
5.When someone says they scarcely remember an event, it means they remember it ___.
6.The plant scarcely ___ any flowers this year because of the cold weather.
7.He scarcely ___ to finish his homework before the deadline because he started late.