scarcely
(adverb)
adverb
1. only a very short time before
- had scarcely rung the bell when the door flew open
- would have scarce arrived before she would have found some excuse to leave
Similar word(s): barely, hardly, just, scarce
2. almost not
- he was scarce sixteen years old
- they scarcely ever used the emergency generator
Similar word(s): barely, hardly, scarce
Sentences with scarcely as an adverb:
- One could scarcely find any trout in the stream without the stocking program.
- One could scarcely expect the man to know how to fly a helicopter.