English Explanatory Dictionary

barely

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adv
  1. By a small margin.
  2. Almost not at all.
  3. Recently, just now.
  4. Merely.
  5. Openly, clearly, plainly.

Pronunciation

/ˈbɛə(ɹ).li/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-barely.wav /ˈbɛɹ.li/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Wodencafe-barely.wav

Word forms

barely more barely most barely

Etymology

From Middle English baarly, bareliche, barely, barly, from Old English bærlīċe, equivalent to bare + -ly. Compare Danish bare (“only, just”), Norwegian bare (“only, just”).

Synonyms

hardly scarcely just only just
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