barely

adverb

bare·​ly ˈber-lē How to pronounce barely (audio)
Synonyms of barely
1
: in a meager manner : plainly
a barely furnished room
2
: scarcely, hardly
barely enough money for lunch

Synonyms of barely

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Examples of barely in a Sentence

We barely spoke the entire time we were in the car. There are barely any new features in this software. There is barely a difference between the two.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On a construction site in Hainan Province, on the sub-tropical southern tip of China, a reactor barely the height of a four-story building has spent 2026 working through the final rites of commissioning that precede commercial nuclear power. — Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026 The fight against hunger For the privileged, the costs brought by war may barely be a blip. — Matt Sedensky, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 Even Velvet, after seven or eight encounters and a viral video, barely knows him. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 30 Aug. 2026 Woods held the career money title for 26 years, despite barely playing the past five years while prize money soared. — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for barely

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1513, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of barely was circa 1513

Rhymes for barely

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Browse Nearby Words

bare-knuckle
barely
baren
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Barely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barely. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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