No more than; Almost not. See examples of barely used in a sentence. Barely is an adverb.
Understanding the Context
It has a totally different meaning from bare. You use barely to say that something is only just true or possible. For example, if you can barely do something, you can only just do it. Wordreference random house unabridged dictionary of american english © 2025 bare•ly (bâr′ lä), adv.
Key Insights
No more than; He had barely enough money to pay for the car. Definition of barely. English dictionary and integrated thesaurus for learners, writers, teachers, and students with advanced, intermediate, and beginner levels. The meaning of barely is in a meager manner : How to use barely in a sentence. You use barely to say that something is only just true or only just the case.
Important Details
Anastasia could barely remember the ride to the hospital. It was 90 degrees and the air conditioning barely cooled the room. Hardly or scarcely used to say that something was almost not possible or almost did not happen; Used to say that someone or something only has a specified small size, age, … Definition of barely adverb in oxford advanced american dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
Final Thoughts
They have barely enough (= no more than what is needed) to pay the rent this month. She was barely (= only just) 15 when she won her first championship.
