Pronunciation

/scærdli/

Definitions

• Adverb: Very rarely; almost not. It modifies an action to indicate that it is done with great difficulty or reluctance.

Phrases

• “Scarcely any” means very little or almost none.
• “Scarcely had he arrived” is a construction used to indicate that something happened immediately after another event.
• “She works so hard, she scarcely has time for herself.”

Example Sentences

• “Scarcely had the sun risen when they started their journey.”
• “He was able to finish the project, but only barely; he had worked scarcely at all.”
• “There was scarcely any food left in the pantry.”

Synonyms

• Hardly
• Barely
• Nearly not
• Virtually not
• Scantily

Antonyms

• Widely
• Heavily
• Ample
• Abundantly
• Generously