Word Adverb
sparsely
adv.
manner
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈspɑɹsɫi/ UK /spˈɑːsli/ sparse·ly
Definition
adv.with only a small number of things or people spread over a large area. You use this to describe a place that feels empty or thin.
adv.in a thinly scattered manner; in small numbers or amounts over a wide area.
Examples
“The room is sparsely furnished with just a bed and a chair.”
“The northern parts of the country are sparsely populated because of the extremely cold climate.”
“The author uses a sparsely decorated prose style to mirror the bleak, desolate landscape in which the story is set.”
Usage
Typically modifies adjectives or past participles (e.g., 'sparsely populated', 'sparsely furnished').
Etymology
From sparse + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated