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.
But a single study rarely changes clinical practice on its own. — Dannell D. Boatman, The Conversation, 8 July 2026 Consumers rarely make purchasing decisions based solely on the product in front of them. — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 Participants usually wear pins disclosing to others that they may be recorded, but the audio rarely includes discussions of the research, and people don’t seem to change their behavior as a result. — Shayla Love, New Yorker, 8 July 2026 For Aysia Jones-Robinson, a 16-year-old flag football player from Germantown, Maryland, losing is rarely an option. — Synai Ferrell, ABC News, 8 July 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 10 Jul. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on rarely

Nglish: Translation of rarely for Spanish Speakers

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