Scarcely Meaning in English
word
释义
Used to mean 'almost not' or 'only just', showing that something happens only with difficulty or in a very limited way.
用法与细微差别
Formal or literary; often signals surprise or emphasis at how little or barely something happens. Do not confuse with 'scarce' (meaning 'rare'). Usually placed before the verb or at the start of the sentence. Common collocations: 'scarcely any', 'scarcely ever', 'scarcely had...'. Avoid in spoken informal English, where 'barely' or 'hardly' are more natural.
例句
She scarcely eats breakfast in the morning.
basic
There was scarcely any water left in the bottle.
basic
I could scarcely believe the news.
basic
We had scarcely arrived when it started to rain.
natural
He could scarcely contain his excitement at the good news.
natural
There were scarcely enough seats for everyone at the meeting.
natural