easy
I could barely hear the whisper.
What does Barely mean?
Barely means only just or almost not.
Dictionary definition
Only just, almost not, or by a very small amount.
Example sentences
Barely in a sentence
medium
The kitten was so small it could barely climb onto the couch.
hard
The team barely finished the project before the final deadline.
Writing practice
Ready to write your own? Study the examples, then practice barely in a sentence with Sentence Builder checklist feedback.
Quick practice
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Practice the meaning of Barely
Answer three quick questions about its meaning and related words.
Question 1 of 3
Practice 1
What does barely mean?
Barely means something happened by a very small amount or almost did not happen.
Practice 2
Which word is closest in meaning to barely?
Hardly can mean almost not, which is close to barely.
Practice 3
Which sentence uses barely correctly?
This sentence uses barely to mean the music was almost too quiet to hear.
Practice complete
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You completed 3 questions.
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Barely
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Sounds like
bair · lee · strongest beat: bair
Tap each sound part, then blend the whole word together.
Learn
WordBarely.
Partadverb.
MeaningBarely means only just or almost not.
ExampleExample: I could barely hear the whisper.
Word breakdown
2 syllables. Say each part, then blend the word.
- Syllables
- bair · lee
- Strongest beat
- bair
- Ending
- lee
- Tip
- Put a little extra energy on bair.
Your turn
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Synonyms
Words like Barely
Antonyms
Opposite words
easilyUse when something happens without difficulty.
clearlyUse when something is easy to see, hear, or understand.
Synonym practice
Want to practice barely synonyms in context? Try a Synonym Search question like "There was scarcely enough glue for the whole class," then compare close word choices. Practice barely synonyms.
Word family
Barely word family
Related words
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Student support
Understand Barely
Hint for students
Barely means only just or almost not.
Common mix-up
Do not use barely just because it sounds familiar. Make sure the sentence matches this meaning: Barely means only just or almost not.
Try it in class or at home
Read this model sentence: The kitten was so small it could barely climb onto the couch. Clue words: kitten, small, could. Underline clue words that show why barely fits instead of easily. Now write one new sentence that shows barely without using the word barely. Ask: Does my sentence clearly show barely?
Teacher prompt
Ask students to explain this model sentence: "The kitten was so small it could barely climb onto the couch." Why does barely fit better than easily?
Learning activities
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