# sparsely

/ˈspɑɹsɫi/ (US) · /spˈɑːsli/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adverb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sparsely
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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 notes

- Typically modifies adjectives or past participles (e.g., 'sparsely populated', 'sparsely furnished').

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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.