barely

adverb

ˈber-lē How to pronounce barely (audio)
Definition of barelynext
as in slightly
by a very small margin we barely made it to the church on time

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of barely Everyone is over the moon with the experience, especially Aesha, who can barely contain her happiness; the night set the bar very high for the rest of the season. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 30 June 2026 After generations of improvement, life expectancy in this country has barely budged since the 2010s. — Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 June 2026 And while the images of crowded fountains and shuttered schools dominate the headlines, the economic damage is already accumulating in ways most employers and policymakers have barely begun to reckon with. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 30 June 2026 But as JuJu Watkins took her place in front of a microphone for the first time since returning to practice this summer, the USC superstar barely could contain her gratitude. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for barely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barely
  1. slightly
  2. just
  3. narrowly
  4. hardly
Adverb
  • Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn hit a flyout to Crow-Armstrong, who zigzagged a bit before making a slightly awkward catch for the first out of the frame.
    — Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • Their menu is seasonal and slightly whimsical while retaining a clear vision, a good representation of the many personalities that make up the Kimball House team.
    — Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of slightly
Adverb
  • Well, Ariana seems to remember, whereas Hudson is determined to just undo the breakup and pretend like none of it ever happened.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 2 July 2026
  • Now that the news is out, ENHYPEN is doing more than just showing up for a panel.
    — Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of just
Adverb
  • The dream of a repeat was on thin ice Friday as Argentina narrowly defeated upstart Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time in Miami.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026
  • The commission took up noncitizen voting in March, narrowly rejecting it.
    — Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of narrowly
Adverb
  • Biking Barefoot There’s hardly anything more quintessentially Southern than hopping on a bike barefoot—and probably in a wet swimsuit as well—in the summertime to pedal down the street to a friend's house, neighborhood pool, or the shoreline.
    — Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 4 July 2026
  • Now in his sixth Angels season, Detmers has strung together a series of wins for an Angels team that is hardly treading water in the American League.
    — Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of hardly

Browse Nearby Words

bare-knuckle
barely
bareness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Barely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barely. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on barely

Nglish: Translation of barely for Spanish Speakers

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