Library / English Dictionary

HARDLY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (adverb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Only a very short time before

Example:

would have scarce arrived before she would have found some excuse to leave

Synonyms:

barely; hardly; just; scarce; scarcely

Classified under:

Adverbs

Sense 2

Meaning:

Almost not

Example:

we were so far back in the theater, we could barely read the subtitles

Synonyms:

barely; hardly; scarce; scarcely

Classified under:

Adverbs

Sense 3

Meaning:

Slowly and with difficulty

Example:

he was so dizzy he could hardly stand up straight

Synonyms:

hard; hardly

Classified under:

Adverbs

Credits

 Context examples: 

I do not know; but I can hardly suppose that, at Admiral Croft's time of life, and in his profession, he should not have many acquaintance in such a place as this.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

It struck me that the whole proceeding could hardly be for the purpose of making a fool of me, and that the main object must be to get out of the rent.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Well, sir, it went so quick, and the creature was so doubled up, that I could hardly swear to that,” was the answer.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

I suppose you would hardly ask me to call you a humane man, returned the doctor with a sneer, and so my feelings may surprise you, Master Silver.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

But these gave place to a heavy swell; I felt sick and hardly able to hold the rudder, when suddenly I saw a line of high land towards the south.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

I had hardly breakfasted then, and my uncle had not rung for his chocolate, when he called for me at Jermyn Street.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He could hardly stand still so great was his mental agitation, and he ran towards Holmes with two eager hands outstretched.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

You had, then, been sitting with your feet outstretched to the fire, which a man would hardly do even in so wet a June as this if he were in his full health.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It was nearly as big as an elephant, and the green throne seemed hardly strong enough to hold its weight.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Down, down, he swam till his arms and leg grew tired and hardly moved.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)