Word
barely
Phoneticsbare·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbɛɹɫi/
UK/bˈeəli/
Adverb of degree
Definitions
01only just
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. by a very small amount or margin.
adv. by a narrow margin; only just. Often used to describe a situation where an action almost failed to occur.
日本語:かろうじて※
“The music was so quiet that I could barely hear it from the next room.”
“The marathon runner barely crossed the finish line before collapsing from exhaustion, having pushed his body to its absolute physical limit.”
Usage
Usually placed before the main verb or after the first auxiliary verb.
Pitfall
I didn't barely hear him.
I barely heard him.
Barely has a negative meaning, so you do not need 'not' or 'didn't' with it.
Antonyms
02almost not at all
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. used to say that something is very small or almost nothing.
adv. to a minimal or negligible degree; almost not at all.
日本語:ほとんど※
“He had barely any money left in his bank account after paying the rent.”
“The evidence provided was barely sufficient to support such a controversial theory, leading many experts to remain skeptical of the findings.”
Usage
Commonly modifies adjectives or verbs to show a lack of intensity.
Antonyms
03only a moment ago
C1 · Advanced Literary
adv. only a very short time ago.
adv. only just; recently. Often used with 'had' to describe an event that happened immediately before another.
“We had barely sat down to eat when the phone started ringing.”
“The sun had barely risen above the horizon when the first scouts returned to camp with news of the approaching army.”
Usage
Often used in the construction 'had barely... when'.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “barely” in context.
Verb
01. barely escape
“They managed to barely escape the building before it collapsed.”
adv + verb
02. barely notice
“I was so focused on my work that I barely noticed the time passing.”
adv + verb
03. barely speak
“She was so emotional that she could barely speak during the ceremony.”
adv + verb
04. barely survive
“The small business could barely survive the economic downturn.”
adv + verb
05. barely touch
“He was so nervous that he could barely touch his dinner.”
adv + verb
Adjective
06. barely audible
“Her voice was barely audible over the loud music in the club.”
adv + adj
07. barely conscious
“The hiker was barely conscious when the rescue team finally found him.”
adv + adj
08. barely visible
“The distant mountains were barely visible through the thick morning fog.”
adv + adj
Real-World Examples
“Photograph: Nick Sommerlad “Poor man, he lived there for more than 60 years and barely moved for the last 20,” the new owner said.” “I was eight when I was given The Water-Babies by Charles Kingsley, after being moved from my grandmother’s care to live with my mother and her husband, who I barely knew.” Etymology
From Middle English baarly, bareliche, barely, barly, from Old English bærlīċe, equivalent to bare + -ly. Compare Danish bare (“only, just”), Norwegian bare (“only, just”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/barely
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0