# scarcely

**Pronunciation:** /ˈskɛərslɪ/ · SKAIR-slee

**CEFR level:** B2

**Part of speech:** adverb

## Meaning

Only with great difficulty or effort; almost not.

## Examples

- He had scarcely begun speaking when he was interrupted.
- There was scarcely enough food for everyone at the party.
- She could scarcely believe her eyes when she saw the mess.

## Synonyms

- hardly — Often interchangeable with 'scarcely', but can sometimes imply a slightly stronger sense of difficulty.
- barely — Emphasizes the minimum possible amount or degree, often implying just enough.
- almost not — A more explicit way to express the same idea as 'scarcely'.
- just — Can sometimes mean 'barely' or 'only just', but is much less formal and specific.

## Antonyms

- easily — The opposite of doing something with difficulty.
- certainly — Indicates that something is definitely true or happening.
- abundantly — Indicates a large or plentiful amount, the opposite of 'scarcely enough'.

## Common patterns

- scarcely ... when — Happening immediately after another event, with little time in between. — She had scarcely arrived when the phone rang.
- scarcely ... than — Happening immediately after another event, with little time in between. — No sooner had he finished one task than he was given another; scarcely had he started than he was interrupted.

## Collocations

- scarcely anyone — Scarcely anyone showed up for the early morning meeting.
- scarcely ever — I scarcely ever go to the cinema these days.
- scarcely believable — His story about winning the lottery was scarcely believable.

Canonical URL: https://anaversity.com/dictionary/english/scarcely

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