26984 words

scarcely

5 definitions • 7 examples
1
almost not:

Examples:

I was scarcely able to move my arm after the accident.
I could scarcely believe it when she said she wanted to marry me.
2
used to say that something happened immediately after something else happened:

Examples:

I had scarcely sat down/Scarcely had I sat down to eat when the phone rang.
3
certainly not:

Examples:

I'd scarcely have done it if I didn't think it was absolutely necessary!
He's only two - you can scarcely blame him for behaving badly.
4
only just or almost not:

Examples:

I could scarcely move my arm after the accident.
5
certainly not:

Examples:

He would scarcely have broken it on purpose.

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