Word
hardly
Phoneticshard·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈhɑɹdɫi/
UK/hˈɑːdli/
Adverb of degree
Definitions
01almost not
B1 · Intermediate
adv. only just; almost not at all.
adv. to a very small degree; barely or scarcely. Often used with 'any' or 'ever' to emphasize a near-total absence.
“The music was so quiet that I could hardly hear it from the back.”
“The fog was so dense that the driver could hardly discern the outlines of the oncoming vehicles until they were nearly upon him.”
Usage
Usually placed before the main verb or after the first auxiliary verb.
Pitfall
I didn't hardly see him.
I hardly saw him.
Hardly already has a negative meaning. Do not use it with 'not' or 'didn't' because it creates a double negative.
Teaching tip
Learners often confuse this with the adverb 'hard'. Remind them that 'hardly' is about quantity or degree, not physical effort.
Antonyms
02certainly not
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. used to say that something is definitely not true or not likely.
adv. used to express emphatic negation or to suggest that a statement is unreasonable or improbable.
“You can hardly expect me to finish all this work by tonight.”
“Given the current economic climate, one can hardly blame the investors for being cautious about such a speculative venture.”
Usage
Often used at the beginning of a clause or before an adjective to challenge an assumption.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03I don't think so
C1 · Advanced Informal
interj. a casual way to say 'no' or 'I don't agree'.
interj. an informal reactive expression used to dismiss a suggestion or claim as being untrue or unlikely.
“"Are you going to help him after he was so rude?" "Hardly."”
“"Do you think the team will win without their star player?" "Hardly; they haven't won a single game since he was injured."”
Teaching tip
This is often used as a one-word response in conversation to show skepticism.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “hardly” in context.
Verb
01. hardly believe the news
“She could hardly believe the news when she heard she had won the lottery.”
adv + verb
02. hardly know the person
“I hardly know the person sitting next to me, so I don't want to ask for a favor.”
adv + verb
03. hardly move the box
“The box was so heavy that I could hardly move it across the floor.”
adv + verb
04. hardly wait for summer
“The children can hardly wait for summer vacation to begin.”
adv + verb
Adjective
05. hardly fair
“It is hardly fair to blame her for a mistake that everyone made.”
adv + adj
06. hardly likely
“It is hardly likely that the flight will arrive on time during this storm.”
adv + adj
07. hardly surprising
“It is hardly surprising that he failed the exam since he never studied.”
adv + adj
Confusables
Hard describes the intensity or effort of an action, while hardly indicates that an action almost never happens or barely occurs.
RememberHard is for effort; hardly is for 'almost not'.
Etymology
From Middle English hardely, hardliche, from Old English heardlīċe (“boldly; hardily; without ease; in a way that causes pain; not easily; only by degrees”), equivalent to hard + -ly. Compare Dutch hardelijk, German härtlich.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
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.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL 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: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/hardly