hardly
Definition
Meaning: Hardly means "barely," "scarcely," or "almost not at all." It is used to describe something that happens to a very small degree or not often.
La signification : Hardly signifie « à peine » ou « presque pas ». On l’utilise pour exprimer qu’une action ou une situation se produit très rarement ou faiblement.
Example: "I could hardly hear what she was saying over the noise."
Grammar: "Hardly" is often used with verbs in the affirmative form but gives a negative meaning. It usually comes before the main verb or after "be."
Quote: "Life is not always what one wants it to be. It is only to be accepted as it is, and lived... one can hardly ask for more." [Katherine Mansfield]
Word Analysis
French equivalents »» À peine »» Presque pas »» Difficilement Ⓐ Il a à peine eu le temps de répondre. Ⓑ Je ne peux presque pas respirer ici ! English equivalents »» Barely »» Scarcely »» Almost not Ⓐ She hardly knows anyone at the party. Ⓑ We hardly ever go out these days.
Dialogue
Sam: "Did you enjoy the film?"
Anna: "Honestly, I could hardly stay awake through it."
Sam: "Yeah, it was a bit slow in the middle."
Poem Excerpt
A Blessing
Just off the highway to Rochester, Minnesota,
Twilight bounds softly forth on the grass.
And the eyes of those two Indian ponies
Darken with kindness.
They have come gladly out of the willows
To welcome my friend and me.
We step over the barbed wire into the pasture
Where they have been grazing all day, alone.
They ripple tensely, they can hardly contain their happiness
That we have come.
They bow shyly as wet swans. They love each other.
James Wright
Read the Full Poem
Etymology
Origin: From Middle English hardly, from Old English heardlīċe (“boldly, strongly”), derived from heard meaning “hard” or “firm.” Over time, the meaning evolved from “with difficulty” or “strongly” to “barely” or “almost not.”
Modern Usage: Common in modern English to describe situations that occur to a very small extent, or actions that are barely achieved or perceived.
Grammar Note: Hardly is an adverb and is used with affirmative verbs to express a negative idea. It often appears before the main verb or after forms of "be."
Audience
Hardly is used across all levels of spoken and written English, from informal conversation to formal writing.
When to use: Use this adverb to stress the low degree or minimal extent of an action or quality. Example: “He hardly knew her, yet he felt he could trust her.”
Extra! Extra!
For a fun and engaging exploration of our word of the day, watch the following…Hard vs. Hardly
The difference between 'hard' and 'hardly'
WordReference
For more on idiomatic usage, visit the WordReference Forums for discussions, translations, and examples of "hardly" in context.
Here are some quick links for further exploration:
» English⇄English – Discuss and learn about words and their usage.
» English⇄French – Explore translations and linguistic nuances.
» Synonyms⇄Antonyms – Contextual variations, etc.
Common Idioms & Expressions Related to "Hardly"
Hardly lift a finger
To do almost nothing to help or contribute.
Example: "He hardly lifts a finger around the house."
Hardly have time to breathe
To be extremely busy, with no time to rest.
Example: "I’ve been so busy at work, I hardly have time to breathe."
Can hardly believe (one's) eyes
To be very surprised or shocked by what one sees.
Example: "She could hardly believe her eyes when she saw the results."
Hardly the time/place/person
Not appropriate or suitable for a situation.
Example: "This is hardly the time to argue about money."
Scarcely/hardly any
Almost none; very few or very little.
Example: "There was hardly any food left after the party."
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