rarely

adverb

rare·​ly ˈrer-lē How to pronounce rarely (audio)
Synonyms of rarelynext
1
: not often : seldom
2
: with rare skill : excellently
3
: in an extreme or exceptional manner

Synonyms of rarely

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Examples of rarely in a Sentence

She rarely talks about her past. Rarely do we see this kind of weather in our area. Only rarely is surgery necessary to treat this condition.
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.
She was rarely seen without long acrylic nails, a full face of makeup, and heapings of glitter. — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026 The Texans’ defense is keeping a core of eight together for the third year in a row, playing in the same system, which rarely happens in the salary-cap era. — Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 Both offer free, self-service tools to change your repayment plan, consolidate loans and check your forgiveness eligibility, so there's rarely a reason to pay someone else to do it for you. — Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026 Much of that water use is the result of habits that most people rarely give a second thought— like leaving the sink running while washing dishes or setting up an automatic sprinkler system to maintain a green yard. — Simmone Shah, Time, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rarely

Word History

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rarely was in 1549

Phrases Containing rarely

Rhymes for rarely

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Browse Nearby Words

rare gas
rarely
rarely/seldom ever
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Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

rarely

adverb
rare·​ly ˈra(ə)r-lē How to pronounce rarely (audio)
ˈre(ə)r-
: not often : seldom
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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