barely done

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely done" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has been completed to a minimal extent or just enough to be considered finished. Example: "The project is barely done, and we still have a lot of work ahead of us."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Technology

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

In this case the fish was cooked in grape seed oil until just barely done.

The New York Times

He's barely done any interviews in the last 20 years, after decades as the Who's de facto spokesman.

The Guardian - Music

Mr Obama has barely done so: he has so far pardoned just 40 people, mostly for penny-ante crimes, many of whom have long since served their time.

The Economist

Cook for 20 minutes over a low heat or until the potatoes are barely done, keeping the level of the water just below that of the other ingredients.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

All throughout the campaign, I have the sensation that, well, clearly the game wants me to be excited right now, but I've barely done anything to warrant the feeling.

TechCrunch

Cook the spaghetti until barely done (if the bag says 13 minutes, drain after 11).

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

I barely do.

The New York Times

He barely did anything.

The Guardian

They barely did.

The Guardian - Sport

He could barely do his job.

The New Yorker

Sublime barely does it justice.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barely done" when you want to emphasize that something is only just completed, often implying that more work is needed or that the quality is not high.

Common error

Avoid using "barely done" when the subject is substantially complete. It suggests a minimal level of completion, so ensure that this aligns with the actual state of the task or object.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely done" functions as an adjectival modifier, typically describing a noun or action that has been completed to a minimal extent. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage as demonstrated in various examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Lifestyle

20%

Technology

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "barely done" is a grammatically correct adjectival modifier that indicates minimal completion. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's most commonly found in News & Media and Lifestyle contexts, carrying a neutral tone suitable for general communication. While not exceptionally common, its usage is well-established, and should be used when you intend to communicate that something has only just been achieved, often implying that more work is needed. The usage is well-established across several authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scarcely completed

Emphasizes the minimal level of completion achieved.

just finished

Indicates a recent but minimal completion.

almost incomplete

Highlights the nearness to being unfinished.

hardly achieved

Focuses on the difficulty or lack of achievement in completion.

minimally executed

Stresses the low level of effort or quality in the execution.

virtually untouched

Indicates that almost nothing has been done.

slightly processed

Implies a superficial level of completion or modification.

nominally addressed

Suggests that something has been acknowledged but not fully resolved.

perfunctorily handled

Conveys a sense of routine or superficial action.

superficially addressed

Describes a surface-level attempt at completion or resolution.

FAQs

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

You can use "barely done" to describe something that is only just completed, such as "The fish was "barely done", cooked in grape seed oil until just tender".

What can I say instead of "barely done"?

Alternatives include "scarcely completed", "just finished", or "almost incomplete", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "barely done" or "almost not done"?

"Barely done" implies a slight degree of completion, while "almost not done" emphasizes the lack of completion. The choice depends on which aspect you want to highlight.

What does it mean when something is described as "barely done"?

It means that something has been completed to the smallest degree possible, implying it's either of low quality, incomplete, or only recently finished.