I barely

USAGE SUMMARY

"I barely" is a grammatically correct phrase, and it can be used in written English.
For example, "I barely had time to finish my project before the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

I barely knew her.

The New York Times

I barely recognized him.

The New York Times - Sports

I barely know Brendan.

The New Yorker

I barely ate.

The New Yorker

I barely slept.

The New York Times - Sports

I barely made it.

The New York Times - Tech

"I barely survived".

The New York Times

I barely recovered.

The New York Times

I barely got away".

The New Yorker

I barely do.

The New York Times

I barely even socialized.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I barely" to express that something was achieved with difficulty or that something exists in a minimal amount. Ensure the context clearly conveys the intended meaning of limitation or scarcity.

Common error

Avoid using "I barely" when you mean to express a complete absence of something. "I barely slept" means you slept very little, not that you didn't sleep at all.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "I barely" is to act as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It indicates the degree or extent to which an action is performed, suggesting a minimal or near-insufficient level. Ludwig provides examples of usage in varied sentence structures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I barely" is a versatile phrase used to express minimal achievement or degree. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in news and media. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates the intended meaning of limitation or scarcity. While alternatives such as "I hardly" and "I scarcely" exist, they may carry slightly different connotations. Avoid using "I barely" when expressing a complete absence, as it implies a minimal presence rather than none at all.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I hardly

Similar in meaning, emphasizing a small amount or degree.

I scarcely

A more formal synonym, also suggesting a minimal amount or degree.

I only just

Indicates that something was achieved with little margin.

I just managed to

Emphasizes the effort required to achieve something.

I nearly didn't

Highlights the close possibility of not succeeding.

I only just about

Expresses that something was achieved by a narrow margin.

I could hardly

Indicates a strong limitation or difficulty in doing something.

I almost didn't

Indicates that something came close to not happening.

I touched only

Indicates a slight or minimal contact.

I negligibly

Indicates that the action has been done with a minimum amount or a little bit of.

FAQs

How can I use "I barely" in a sentence?

You can use "I barely" to express minimal action or achievement, such as "I barely slept last night" or "I barely made it to the meeting on time".

What can I say instead of "I barely"?

You can use alternatives like "I hardly", "I scarcely", or "I just" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "I barely" or "I hardly"?

Both "I barely" and "I hardly" are correct and often interchangeable, but "I hardly" can sometimes imply a sense of surprise or disbelief, while "I barely" focuses on the narrowness of the margin or degree.

What's the difference between "I barely" and "I almost"?

"I barely" implies a minimal degree of something or a narrow achievement, while "I almost" suggests that something nearly occurred but ultimately did not. For example, "I barely finished" means I finished with little time to spare, while "I almost finished" means I did not complete it.