# scarcely

/ˈskɛɹsɫi/ (US) · /skˈeəsli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/scarcely
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. almost not

adverb · CEFR C1 · Formal

almost not at all; used to say that something is very nearly not true or not happening.

For teachers: to a very small degree; almost not. Often used to emphasize that a state or action is barely present.

- The music was so quiet that I could scarcely hear it from the back row.
- The evidence was so thin that the prosecution could scarcely argue for a conviction without further witnesses.

Usage: Usually placed before the main verb or after the first auxiliary verb.

### 2. only just

adverb · CEFR C1 · Formal · Literary

only just; used when something happens immediately after something else.

For teachers: only just; by a very narrow margin. Frequently used in the construction 'scarcely... when' to describe immediate succession.

- We had scarcely sat down to eat when the phone rang.
- Scarcely had the ink dried on the treaty when the first reports of border skirmishes began to arrive at the capital.

Usage: When starting a sentence with 'scarcely' for emphasis, the subject and verb are inverted (e.g., 'Scarcely had I...').

### 3. certainly not

adverb · CEFR C1 · Formal

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

For teachers: used to imply that a statement is certainly not the case or that an action is impossible.

- He is so young that he can scarcely be expected to manage the whole company.
- One can scarcely imagine a more disastrous outcome for the negotiations given the current political climate.

Usage: Often used with 'can' or 'could' to suggest that an idea is unreasonable.

## Examples

- I could scarcely believe the news.
- The room was so dark that I could scarcely see the person sitting across from me.
- He had scarcely finished his dinner when the phone rang, forcing him to abandon his quiet evening for an urgent meeting at the office.

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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.