Word
sparsely
Phoneticssparse·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈspɑɹsɫi/
UK/spˈɑːsli/
Adverb of manner
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.”
Examples
simple
“The room is sparsely furnished with just a bed and a chair.”
contextual
“The northern parts of the country are sparsely populated because of the extremely cold climate.”
complex
“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').
Real-World Examples
“What can this diverse little community tell us about the sparsely documented stretch of life after the ice?” Etymology
From sparse + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/sparsely