# hardly

/ˈhɑɹdɫi/ (US) · /hˈɑːdli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hardly
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. almost not

adverb · CEFR B1

only just; almost not at all.

For teachers: 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.

Teaching tip: Learners often confuse this with the adverb 'hard'. Remind them that 'hardly' is about quantity or degree, not physical effort.

### 2. certainly not

adverb · CEFR B2

used to say that something is definitely not true or not likely.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. I don't think so

interjection · CEFR C1 · Informal

a casual way to say 'no' or 'I don't agree'.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- I can hardly hear you over the loud music.
- We had hardly finished our lunch when the waiter brought the bill and asked us to leave.
- The evidence presented was so thin that it could hardly be considered a serious basis for a legal challenge, let alone a full investigation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.