scarcely

[US]/ˈskeəsli/
[UK]/ˈskersli/
Frequency: Very High

Translation

hardly; barely; almost not; almost no

Phrases & Collocations

scarcely visible

scarcely believe

scarcely any

scarcely ever

Example Sentences

Scarcely a day goes by without him calling his parents.

She had scarcely finished her meal when the phone rang.

They had scarcely arrived when the party started.

Scarcely anyone noticed the small changes in the room.

He could scarcely believe his luck when he won the lottery.

Scarcely a moment passed before she realized her mistake.

The temperature dropped so quickly that it was scarcely bearable.

Scarcely a word was spoken during the tense meeting.

The news was so shocking that she could scarcely believe it.

Scarcely a week goes by without him practicing the piano.

Real-world Examples

165. The careful man is scarcely scared by the scarce parcel.

Source: Remember 7000 graduate exam vocabulary in 16 days.

Local residents were scarcely able to cope.

Source: Environment and Science

The living were scarcely able to bury the dead.

Source: America The Story of Us

The buildings over there are scarcely visible in the dusk.

Source: High-frequency vocabulary in daily life

You can scarcely tell where one ends and another begins.

Source: UK original primary school Chinese language class

The world could scarcely afford to lose another pot dealer.

Source: American TV series Person of Interest Season 4

These changes were gradual and at first scarcely visible.

Source: Past exam translation questions for the English graduate entrance examination.

Carpoff could scarcely have imagined it.

Source: The Atlantic Monthly (Article Edition)

Poor little boy! he was so cold and tired that he could scarcely speak.

Source: British Original Language Textbook Volume 2

Johnsy lay, scarcely making a ripple under the bedclothes, with her face toward the window.

Source: O. Henry Short Stories Collection

Popular Words

Explore frequently searched vocabulary

Download App to Unlock Full Content

Want to learn vocabulary more efficiently? Download the DictoGo app and enjoy more vocabulary memorization and review features!

Download DictoGo Now