barely heard

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely heard" is correct and usable in written English.
It could be used in a sentence to describe someone speaking, singing, or crying in such a soft or quiet manner that it can barely be heard. For example, "The singer's voice was barely heard over the sound of the crowd."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I barely heard her.

The New Yorker

She had barely heard of the famine.

The New York Times

Those voices were barely heard.

The New York Times

I barely heard his words.

The New York Times - Magazine

Ibarbo, though, barely heard a peep.

The Guardian - Sport

Ryan listened keenly but, half-deaf with desire, barely heard.

The New York Times - Magazine

My ideal obit is somebody you've barely heard of.

The New Yorker

Those voices were barely heard during Mr. Ahmadinejad's tenure.

The New York Times

Moreover, no opposition is allowed and dissent is barely heard.

The Economist

At the time, Fei had barely heard of HIPAA.

The Guardian

In four days I barely heard a non-Russian voice.

The Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barely heard" to convey a sense of difficulty in perceiving a sound, either due to its low volume, distance, or the presence of other noises. Ensure the context clarifies what is being "barely heard".

Common error

Avoid using "barely heard" when the reason for not hearing something is due to lack of attention or focus, instead of physical audibility. For example, if someone wasn't paying attention, it's better to say "I didn't hear it" rather than "I "barely heard" it".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely heard" functions as an adverbial modifier describing the manner in which a verb (usually related to hearing or perceiving sound) is performed. It indicates that the action of hearing was difficult or minimal. Ludwig provides numerous examples where "barely heard" modifies verbs like 'hear', 'listen', or 'notice'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barely heard" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe something that was difficult to hear, with Ludwig AI confirming its accuracy and usability. It functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating a minimal level of audibility. Predominantly used in "News & Media", "barely heard" also appears in science and formal contexts. While alternatives like "scarcely audible" and "faintly heard" exist, "barely heard" offers a balanced and widely applicable option for expressing diminished audibility. Remember to use it when referring to the physical difficulty of hearing a sound rather than a lack of attention.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scarcely audible

Emphasizes the difficulty in hearing something due to its low volume.

hardly audible

Similar to scarcely audible, focusing on the lack of audibility.

faintly heard

Highlights that the sound was heard, but with very little intensity.

almost unheard

Suggests the sound approached being completely inaudible.

just audible

Indicates that the sound was at the lowest threshold of being heard.

dimly heard

Focuses on the unclear or muffled quality of the sound.

indistinctly heard

Highlights the lack of clarity in what was heard.

softly heard

Describes the low volume at which something was heard.

imperceptibly heard

Implies that the sound was so quiet it was almost not noticed.

muffled sound

Indicates the sound was not clear because something was blocking it.

FAQs

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

Use "barely heard" to describe something that was difficult to hear due to low volume or other interference. For example, "His whisper was "barely heard" above the noise of the crowd".

What are some alternatives to "barely heard"?

You can use alternatives like "scarcely audible", "faintly heard", or "hardly audible" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "hardly heard" instead of "barely heard"?

"Hardly heard" and "barely heard" are often interchangeable, but "barely heard" emphasizes the minimal level of audibility, while "hardly heard" focuses on the difficulty in hearing. Both are grammatically correct.

What is the difference between "barely heard" and "not heard at all"?

"Barely heard" means something was audible, but only just, whereas "not heard at all" means it was completely inaudible. The former implies some level of perception, while the latter indicates complete absence of sound.