Is barely the same as hardly?

They are very similar. "Barely" often feels a bit stronger and more exact about a small amount.

Can I use barely in formal writing?

Yes. It is common in both spoken and written English, including academic and business writing.

What is the difference between barely and just?

"Just" can mean "only" or "exactly," while "barely" stresses that something was almost not enough.

← Dictionary

barely

/ˈbeə.li/

IELTSAcademic

adverb

Only just; by a very small amount. It shows that something is true, but only with little room to spare.

I barely caught the train.
She could barely hear the music.
We barely had enough time.

Adinary Nuance

Barely is close to "hardly," "scarcely," and "just," but it usually sounds a little more direct. It often means there was almost not enough time, money, space, or energy. Use "just" when you want a softer, more neutral tone; use "barely" when you want to stress the small margin.

In other languages

Vietnamese: suýt nữa
Spanish: apenas
Chinese: 勉强
Japanese: かろうじて
Korean: 간신히

Etymology

Barely comes from bare, an Old English word meaning "thin" or "without much." The adverb meaning "only just" developed in English later, by the late Middle English period.

Common phrases

barely enoughbarely noticeablebarely awakebarely managed to

Synonyms

scarcely hardly just

Related words

almost enough minimum thinly

Frequently asked questions

Is barely the same as hardly?: They are very similar. "Barely" often feels a bit stronger and more exact about a small amount.
Can I use barely in formal writing?: Yes. It is common in both spoken and written English, including academic and business writing.
What is the difference between barely and just?: "Just" can mean "only" or "exactly," while "barely" stresses that something was almost not enough.