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barely

barely

1.0
Happens only by a very small amount
  • adverb
  • /ˈbɛrli/
translation icon : apenas
  • Unfortunately, we only barely scratched the surface of a vast problem area.
  • barely enough
  • just barely
  • barely get

But like you notice she barely walks in this season.

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Examples

Synonyms

a little
vsbarely
1.0

A small amount, not very much

is similar but signals an even tinier proportion
little
vsbarely
1.0

To a very small degree

is closer to the edge of happening, a tinier margin
almost
vsbarely
1.0

Nearly but not completely

is similar but usually stresses a tinier degree
just
vsbarely
1.0

By a very small amount

indicates an even smaller, hardly measurable margin
a bit
vsbarely
1.0

To a small degree or amount

is the same smallness but often used in stricter contexts
nearly
vsbarely
1.0

Almost but not completely

is narrower, pointing to an almost unmeasurable amount
hardly
vsbarely
1.0

Almost not able to do something

expresses the same near absence but focuses on margin size
pretty much
vsbarely
  • Informal
3.0

Almost completely but not quite

is much narrower, meaning only a very small amount
just about
vsbarely
915 2.7

Almost right, but not exactly

is tighter, indicating only a very small margin
slightly
vsbarely
885 1.0

A little, not very much

is like this but implies a nearer-to-zero margin
somewhat
vsbarely
816 2.0

To a small degree

is narrower, stressing the very smallest degree only
practically
vsbarely
634 2.5

Almost but not completely

is narrower, stressing a very small margin in amount
virtually
vsbarely
578 3.6

Almost complete but not fully finished

is more focused on a minimal amount or degree
near
vsbarely
111 1.0

Almost happening or becoming true

is closer to expressing a minimal measurable difference
scarcely
vsbarely
68 4.2

Almost not at all or only just

is equally tiny but used specifically for a minimal margin
faintly
vsbarely
47 2.7

In a way that is only slightly noticeable

is similar but focuses on quantity rather than faintness
marginally
vsbarely
35 4.1

By a small amount

suggests an even smaller, nearer-to-zero difference
minimally
vsbarely
22 3.7

A very small amount that is almost not noticeable

is similar but used more flexibly for tiny margins

Antonyms

32 3.5

In large amounts that are more than enough

1 2.5

In large amounts

Compounds

Hard to see because it is very faint

Very hard to read so you can only understand a little

How Much

completely
1.0
considerably
144 3.4
somewhat
816 2.0
slightly
885 1.0
barely
1.0
not at all
331 1.0

Surface Forms

barely positive

Morphology

barely = bare (transparent) = bare + ly

Standard adverbial formation from 'bare' meaning 'minimal', giving the sense 'only just' which is directly derivable from the base.

Etymology

The word barely comes from bare, which means 'without extra' or 'naked', so barely is like doing something in a 'bare' way with almost nothing left. That's why when you say someone barely passed, you mean they passed 'only just' or 'almost not'.