barely Meaning & Definition
What Does Barely Mean?
Barely is used as an adverb meaning in a meager manner. It is also used to mean scarcely, hardly.
Barely at a Glance
| Part of speech | adverb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈber-lē/ |
| Syllables | 2 |
| Synonyms | just, scarcely and hardly |
| Antonyms | considerably, significantly and substantially |
| Comparative / superlative | more barely, most barely |
| First known use | 1513 |
Barely Definition (Adverb)
- in a meager manner : plainly
a barely furnished room
- scarcely, hardly
barely enough money for lunch
Synonyms of Barely
Barely synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Barely
Barely in a Sentence
I barely completed my homework. However, I got a score of 5 for it.
Barely had I opened the door than the phone started to ring.
The plane is so far away now I can barely see it.
Yes, it is barely visible.
I barely got to the store.
a barely furnished room
barely enough money for lunch
we barely made it to the church on time
Word Forms & Grammar
barely
barely (comparative more barely, superlative most barely)
Words That Rhyme With Barely
Origin of Barely
From Middle English baarly, bareliche, barely, barly, from Old English bærlīċe, equivalent to bare + -ly. Compare Danish bare (“only, just”), Norwegian bare (“only, just”).
First Known Use
circa 1513
How Do You Say Barely?
The standard pronunciation of barely is /ˈber-lē/, spoken in 2 syllables, with the main stress on the first syllable (ber).
Frequently Asked Questions About Barely
What part of speech is barely?
Barely is an adverb.
What is another word for barely?
You can replace barely with words such as just, scarcely and hardly. See the full list of barely synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of barely?
Words opposite in meaning to barely are considerably, significantly, substantially and vastly.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of barely?
The comparative form is more barely and the superlative form is most barely.