barely an hour

USAGE SUMMARY

"barely an hour" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe a short amount of time, usually less than one hour. Example: I had barely an hour to finish my project before the deadline.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Barely an hour later, a dazed Min trudged away, having been shellacked by Alison Riske in the opening round, 6-0, 6-0.

The New York Times - Sports

Barely an hour later, the house was ablaze.

The New York Times

Barely an hour later, Mr. Butler gave his account.

The New York Times

Barely an hour later, the President's allies began publicly claiming vindication.

The New Yorker

Barely an hour later, Mr. Trump's comments were anything but that.

The New York Times

After barely an hour, he came back.

The New Yorker

And it's barely an hour long.

The New York Times

After barely an hour, he headed back to the dock.

The New York Times

The Vice President was in Portland barely an hour.

The New York Times

In Hanover, the highway was closed for barely an hour.

The New York Times

The flight to Heathrow is barely an hour.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barely an hour" to emphasize the brevity of a time period, creating a sense of urgency or surprise.

Common error

Avoid using "barely an hour" when a more precise measurement is needed. For example, if the time period is consistently 50 minutes, stating "about 50 minutes" is more accurate and less ambiguous.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely an hour" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the duration of an action or event. Ludwig AI confirms this is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

97%

Encyclopedias

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barely an hour" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a short duration of time. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is frequently used in news and media to emphasize brevity and create a sense of urgency. While many alternative phrases exist, such as "almost an hour" or "just under an hour", "barely an hour" carries a subtle nuance of surprise or unexpected shortness. It's crucial to use precise measurements for clarity, especially in technical or scientific contexts. The expression, while versatile, is most effective when highlighting the brevity of an event. This is backed by a wealth of examples from authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just under an hour

Emphasizes the proximity to the one-hour mark.

a little less than an hour

Adds a slight degree of approximation.

not quite an hour

Highlights the incomplete nature of the hour.

almost an hour

Focuses on the near completion of the hour.

close to an hour

Indicates a duration approaching one hour.

slightly under an hour

Emphasizes a small difference from a full hour.

fractionally less than an hour

Adds a formal tone and highlights precision.

in effect an hour

Focuses on the functional impact, suggesting time felt like an hour.

virtually an hour

Similar to “almost”, but can also mean for all practical purposes.

approximately 60 minutes

Provides a more specific, and arguably more clinical, approximation.

FAQs

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

You can use "barely an hour" to describe a short duration of time, as in "The meeting lasted "barely an hour", but we covered a lot of ground."

What are some alternatives to saying "barely an hour"?

Alternatives include "almost an hour", "just under an hour", or "a little less than an hour". Consider the context when choosing the most appropriate phrase.

Is it correct to say "hardly an hour" instead of "barely an hour"?

Yes, "hardly an hour" is a similar and often interchangeable phrase. Both emphasize the short duration, but "barely an hour" might slightly emphasize the unexpected shortness.

What's the difference between "barely an hour" and "just an hour"?

"Barely an hour" emphasizes that the time was shorter than expected, whereas "just an hour" simply states the duration without the implication of brevity or surprise.