barely
adverb
UK/ˈbeə.li/US/ˈber.li/
By the smallest amount; almost not or hardly; used to emphasize that something is only just true or possible.
Example Sentences
I could barely hear the speaker over the noise of the crowd.
She barely managed to catch the last train home.
After working all day without a break, I had barely enough energy left to prepare dinner.
He could barely stand up straight after running the marathon in record temperatures.
The restaurant was so crowded that they could barely find a place to sit.
They barely arrived in time for the opening ceremony, slipping into the hall just as the lights dimmed.
Despite the heavy rains, we barely saw any flooding in our area, though nearby towns weren’t as fortunate and experienced widespread damage.
She was so exhausted from studying through the night that she could barely keep her eyes open during the final exam.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
Antonyms
How to Use
Indicates something done or achieved by a very small margin.“Barely” is an adverb that underscores a narrow margin or scant possibility. You might say, “I barely made it to class on time,” meaning you arrived just at the last moment. It helps emphasize that something almost failed to happen or was only just successful. When paired with a positive statement, it often lends an air of difficulty or urgency to the action; for instance, “They barely survived the storm,” conveys a sense of danger and near-miss. At other times, it can introduce a sense of surprise at how little is needed or how small the difference might be: “He barely ate anything today.” In writing or conversation, context plays a big role in clarifying the intended emphasis. If you want to stress that your success was precarious, you might say, “I barely finished my work before the deadline.” Alternatively, you can employ “barely” to highlight minimal resources, like “We barely have enough money for rent this month.” Because “barely” suggests that you only just managed something—or conversely, that something is almost insufficient—using it effectively adds drama, tension, or a sense of limitation. Whether in casual speech, professional writing, or creative storytelling, “barely” lends punch to moments that hinge on a razor-thin outcome or a nearly impossible scenario.
Alternatives
Several other expressions approximate the meaning of “barely” while introducing slightly different nuances. “Hardly” and “scarcely” both convey the sense that something is just short of happening—or did so by the smallest margin—but “hardly” can lean more casual in modern usage, whereas “scarcely” sounds more formal or literary. “Only just” or “just about” also highlight an extremely narrow window for success or completion, hinting at a borderline outcome. Meanwhile, phrases like “by a hair” or “by the skin of one’s teeth” are more idiomatic, painting an even more dramatic picture of how narrowly something was achieved. If you want a softer, more informal touch, “almost not” can be handy, though it’s more direct and less idiomatic than “barely.” For situations where the subject faces an external obstacle, “came close to not” might emphasize the challenge or risk involved. If you prefer a phrase that accentuates relief or good fortune, you might say, “We squeaked by,” indicating that success was attained in a nick-of-time fashion. Ultimately, picking the right alternative depends on your audience, context, and how strongly you wish to emphasize the slimness of the outcome. By varying these synonyms, you keep your language fresh while still communicating the precarious margin of your subject’s success or possibility.
Writing
When incorporating “barely” into your writing, it’s helpful to consider both clarity and effect. As an adverb that modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, “barely” stresses how close a situation is to failing or how minimal a quantity or degree truly is. For instance, “He barely spoke above a whisper” conveys the quietness of his speech. By using “barely,” you lend drama to descriptions: “She barely noticed the change” implies it was so subtle she almost missed it. Strategically placed, “barely” can build tension, hinting that characters, events, or outcomes are on the brink. In fiction, you might use it to intensify the stakes of a scene: “They barely escaped the burning building.” In essays or informational writing, “barely” can highlight limitations or constraints, as in “The committee barely had enough time to review the proposal,” underscoring the hectic nature of the process. However, overusing “barely” can dilute its impact, so consider whether another adverb or construction might better suit the occasion. Always double-check that your use of “barely” aligns with the impression you wish to create—be it relief, stress, or near failure—and ensure readers understand what that minimal margin signifies in your context.
Casual Conversation
In everyday conversation, “barely” is a quick way to express that something almost didn’t happen or just happened with a slim margin. For example, when someone asks if you got enough sleep, you might reply, “I barely slept last night,” indicating it was only a small amount. Or, if a friend inquires about your commute, you could say, “I barely caught the bus,” emphasizing that you arrived just in time. Whether you’re talking about your budget for the month (“I barely have enough to cover rent”) or sharing an achievement (“I barely passed the test”), the word instantly captures the precarious nature of your experience. Using “barely” casually can add color and realism to everyday chats, as it frequently underscores the sense that the outcome could have swung the other way. It’s a great choice if you want to highlight how tight the margin was—maybe you nearly missed an event, just avoided a problem, or scarcely managed to handle a task. If you want to switch things up, synonyms like “hardly” or “just about” can keep your speech varied and lively. Regardless of the alternative, “barely” remains one of the most direct ways to communicate that something almost didn’t happen.
Etymology
The adverb “barely” comes from the adjective “bare,” rooted in Old English “bær,” meaning “naked” or “uncovered.” Over time, “bare” evolved in Middle English to describe something “just sufficient” or “lacking adornment.” When “-ly,” a common adverbial suffix, was added, the term shifted toward describing actions or states that are performed with minimal resources or to a marginal extent. This sense of “by the smallest possible measure” is closely tied to the original notion of “bare” as “just enough, with nothing extra.” In its earliest uses, “barely” simply meant “openly” or “plainly,” aligning with the concept of “uncovered” truth. However, through centuries of usage, the emphasis moved more solidly to the idea of scarcity or narrowness. Today, “barely” stands as a concise way to note that something was achieved—or avoided—only just, underscoring a thin line between success and failure, presence and absence. Its linguistic path from “bare” to “barely” mirrors a broader evolution in English, where adjectives frequently give rise to adverbs that modify or intensify meaning. Thus, “barely” remains anchored in this core idea of “almost not,” preserving the sense of near insufficiency that has marked its usage for centuries.
