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.
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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.
The elder Sebastian Trotter was in the water below him, grabbing a tree trunk, wounded and barely able to speak. — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026 The pair barely crack more than a perfunctory smirk, in stark contrast to the uproarious laughter emanating from Fielder’s laptop screen. — Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026 These have enough sweetness to brown and almost glaze in the air fryer, and barely any chile heat. — Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Oct. 2026 Today, thieves barely need to leave the comfort of their own couch. — Mike McRae 20, New Atlas, 21 Oct. 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
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Cite this Entry

“Barely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barely. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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