hardly

adverb
UK: /ˈhɑːdli/
US: /ˈhɑːrdli/

  1. Almost not at all; only just.

    1. I hardly know her. [ ] [ ]
    2. He could hardly understand what she was talking about because she spoke so fast. [ ] [ ]

  2. Used to emphasize that something is definitely not true or possible.

    1. It's hardly a surprise that she failed. [ ] [ ]
    2. The cost of the trip is hardly going to break the bank, so why are you worried? [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

scarcely barely rarely

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "hardly" in English means: Almost not at all; only just., Used to emphasize that something is definitely not true or possible..

The phonetic transcription of "hardly" is /ˈhɑːdli/ in British English and /ˈhɑːrdli/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "hardly": scarcely, barely, rarely.

Example usage of "hardly": "I hardly know her.". More examples on the page.