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Rarely vs. Barely — What's the Difference?

Rarely vs. Barely — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Rarely and Barely

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Compare with Definitions

Rarely

Not often; seldom
I rarely drive above 50 mph

Barely

Only just; almost not
A barely perceptible pause
She nodded, barely able to speak

Rarely

Remarkably well
You can write rarely now, after all your schooling

Barely

In a simple and sparse way
Their barely furnished house

Rarely

Not often; infrequently
"The truth is rarely pure and never simple" (Oscar Wilde).
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Barely

Openly; explicitly.

Rarely

In an unusual degree; exceptionally
"a rarely good judge of the best in modern literature" (Frank Harris).

Barely

By a very little; hardly
Could barely see the road in the fog.

Rarely

With uncommon excellence
"You can write rarely now, after all your schooling" (George Eliot).

Barely

In a scanty manner; sparsely
A barely furnished room.

Rarely

Not occurring at a regular interval; seldom; not often.
We rarely go to the theatre.
Rarely do you ever find an eagle this far up the river.

Barely

(degree) By a small margin.

Rarely

Unusually well; excellently.

Barely

(degree) Almost not at all.
The plane is so far away now I can barely see it.
Yes, it is barely visible.

Rarely

To a rare degree; very.

Barely

(archaic) merely.

Rarely

In a rare manner or degree; seldom; not often; as, things rarely seen.

Barely

Without covering; nakedly.

Rarely

Finely; excellently; with rare skill. See 3d Rare, 2.
The person who played so rarely on the flageolet.
The rest of the apartments are rarely gilded.

Barely

Without concealment or disguise.

Rarely

Not often;
We rarely met

Barely

Merely; only.
R. For now his son is duke.W. Barely in title, not in revenue.

Barely

But just; without any excess; with nothing to spare (of quantity, time, etc.); hence, scarcely; hardly; as, there was barely enough for all; he barely escaped.

Barely

By a small margin;
They could barely hear the speaker
We hardly knew them
Just missed being hit
Had scarcely rung the bell when the door flew open
Would have scarce arrived before she would have found some excuse to leave

Barely

In a sparse or scanty way;
A barely furnished room

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