# narrowly

/ˈnɛɹoʊɫi/ (US) · /nˈæɹəʊli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/narrowly
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. by a small margin

adverb · CEFR B2

by a very small amount or distance; almost not happening.

For teachers: by a slim margin or only just; frequently used with verbs of success, failure, or avoidance.

- The driver narrowly missed the cyclist when he turned the corner.
- The incumbent candidate narrowly won the election after a tense recount of the ballots in the final three districts.

### 2. in a limited way

adverb · CEFR C1 · Formal · Academic

looking at or defining something in a very strict or limited way.

For teachers: in a restricted or limited manner; without flexibility or broad interpretation.

- The law was narrowly defined to only include specific types of businesses.
- The committee interpreted the regulations so narrowly that many deserving applicants were automatically excluded from the grant process.

## Examples

- The runner narrowly won the race.
- The driver narrowly avoided a collision by swerving at the last possible second.
- The legislation narrowly passed the senate after a heated debate that lasted well into the early hours of the morning.

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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.