barely empty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely empty" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation/space that is almost empty. For example, "The stadium was barely empty after the concert finished."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

With this method, you could empty a bucketful of water into a two-hundred-jin pig, while with the old method you could barely empty half a bucket of water into the carcass of a dead cow.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

There was barely an empty seat at this packed Bristol show.

The Times

There was barely an empty seat in the arena, yet it was often hushed expectantly.

The Guardian

A gloved-up kangaroo would have put up more resistance than the Australian journeyman but with barely an empty seat to be seen here there is no shortage of public affection for Haye.

The Guardian - Sport

Under the banner of Mao Zedong, forward to victory!" The amazing thing was that when we went the other night, there was barely an empty seat in the house, in the twelve-hundred-seat Tianqiao Theatre.

The New Yorker

And, one scene shows the Miller Garden's widely acclaimed and influential allée, where we learn that a barely visible empty plinth once held a Henry Moore sculpture that was sold at auction at Christie's.

HuffPost

Many of those very friends were still on hand--smiling deathlessly from black-and-white photographs that left barely an empty space on the old pine-paneled walls.

Los Angeles Times

"You can react to a narrow victory by trimming your sails, or you can decide 'What the hell, let's sail into the storm and make sure this has meant something.' " The champagne bottles from victory celebrations in Chicago will barely be emptied before Mr. Obama has to begin answering that question.

The New York Times

If your parents' kitchen counter or, worse, bathroom medicine chest is crammed with pill bottles -- old, new, rarely used, barely remembered, emptied and never refilled -- a new brochure from Consumers Union and the Eldercare Locator, a service of the United States Administration on Aging, might prove useful.

The New York Times

There are few minor tragedies as sad as seeing a massed rank of immaculate waiters standing in a vast, posh restaurant which could barely be emptier if a sign saying "Our sous chef has Sars: half-price special offer" hung in the window.

The Guardian - Travel

Later, when I help clear to the kitchen, I spot several empty, barely concealed Birds Eye packets.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barely empty" to create a sense of irony or disappointment when describing a space or container that was expected to be full. For example: 'The concert hall was "barely empty", a stark contrast to the sold-out shows of previous years.'

Common error

Avoid using "barely empty" when you mean 'completely empty'. "Barely empty" suggests that there's still something present, even if it's minimal. If you want to emphasize complete absence, use 'completely empty' or 'entirely vacant' instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely empty" functions as an adjective phrase, where 'barely' (an adverb) modifies 'empty' (an adjective). According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. It primarily serves to describe something that is nearly empty, but not completely so.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "barely empty" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It functions as an adjective phrase to describe something that is nearly, but not entirely, empty. While not extremely common, it appears in various contexts, particularly in news and media. It's important to note the subtle difference between "barely empty" and phrases like "completely empty"; the former indicates a near-empty state, while the latter signifies total emptiness. When you want to suggest something is more empty than full, and yet isn't quite completely without content, "barely empty" is a suitable and precise choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost vacant

Indicates a state of being nearly vacant, with very few occupants or contents.

scarcely filled

Emphasizes the lack of content or occupants, highlighting that it's only minimally filled.

nearly unoccupied

Refers to a space or place that is close to being completely without occupants.

virtually devoid

Implies that something is almost entirely lacking or absent.

practically empty

Suggests that something is nearly empty in a practical sense.

almost bare

Similar to 'barely empty', this implies something is only just at its minimum state of contents

hardly occupied

Highlights the minimal level of occupancy, suggesting it's close to being unoccupied.

just about empty

Focuses on the imminence of emptiness, indicating it's very close to being completely empty.

little filled

Indicates that something is filled to a small extent and thus it's almost empty

slightly empty

Implies a small amount of emptiness.

FAQs

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

You can use "barely empty" to describe a container or space that is almost, but not quite, empty. For example, "The glass was "almost empty", with only a few drops of water remaining."

What's a good substitute for "barely empty"?

Alternatives to "barely empty" include "nearly empty", "almost vacant", or "scarcely filled". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "barely empty" grammatically correct?

Yes, "barely empty" is grammatically correct. "Barely" is an adverb modifying the adjective "empty", indicating a minimal degree of emptiness.

What's the difference between "barely empty" and "completely empty"?

"Barely empty" means something is almost empty, whereas "completely empty" signifies that there is nothing left. Using one instead of the other can significantly alter the meaning of your sentence.