barely

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English baarly, bareliche, barely, barly, from Old English bærlīċe, equivalent to bare +‎ -ly. Compare Danish bare (“only, just”), Norwegian bare (“only, just”). === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): /ˈbɛə(ɹ).li/ (US) IPA(key): /ˈbɛɹ.li/ Rhymes: -ɛə(ɹ)li Hyphenation: bare‧ly === Adverb === barely (comparative more barely, superlative most barely) (not comparable, degree) By a small margin. 1925, Walter Anthony and Tom Reed (titles), Rupert Julian (director), The Phantom of the Opera, silent movie ‘It is barely possible you may hear of a ghost, a Phantom of the Opera!’ (not comparable, degree) Almost not at all. (Chicano, not comparable) Recently, just now. (not comparable, archaic) Merely. (comparable, rare) Openly, clearly, plainly. ==== Usage notes ==== It is grammatically a negative word. It therefore collocates with ever rather than never. Compare with ==== Synonyms ==== (degree): hardly, scarcely (barely, almost not or not quite): hardly, just, only just, scarcely ==== Translations ==== === Anagrams === Barley, Braley, barley, bearly, bleary