barely seen

USAGE SUMMARY

"barely seen" is a grammatically correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It means to be seen but in a very limited or minimal way. It is often used to describe something that is very faint or difficult to make out. Example: The moon was barely seen behind the thick clouds, casting a faint glow over the dark night sky.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

We've barely seen the sun".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

You've barely seen him smile.

The Guardian - Film

Barely seen, barely explained, not properly introduced.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"I'd barely seen a cow at the time," Jon said.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In this series The New York Post is barely seen.

The New York Times - Arts

The current editor, Martin Dunn, is barely seen.

The New York Times - Arts

"We started with submicron flakes, barely seen even in an optical microscope," he says.

The New Yorker

Most of the region has barely seen any growth since 2009.

The Economist

Mr. Gandolfini is barely seen in the film and only occasionally heard.

The New York Times - Arts

New England Coach Bill Belichick had barely seen Cloud play this season.

The New York Times - Sports

/ Indeed with all these shopping malls / trees are barely seen at all".

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "barely seen", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being observed and why its visibility is limited. This adds clarity and impact to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "barely seen" when something is completely invisible. The phrase implies some degree of visibility, however slight. If something cannot be seen at all, use phrases like "not visible" or "completely obscured."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely seen" functions as an adverbial modifier describing the state of being seen. It indicates that something is visible to a very limited extent. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct. Examples from Ludwig show its use in various contexts, such as describing faint objects or minimal impact.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

29%

Lifestyle

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barely seen" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that conveys minimal visibility or presence. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and numerous examples demonstrate its versatility across diverse domains such as news, science, and lifestyle. While "barely seen" is appropriate for describing faint or infrequent visibility, it should not be used when something is entirely invisible. Alternatives like "scarcely visible" or "hardly noticeable" offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances. In essence, "barely seen" is a valuable tool for adding precision and subtlety to your writing, particularly when describing subtle observations or limited impacts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scarcely visible

Emphasizes the difficulty in seeing something due to its faintness or obscurity.

hardly noticeable

Highlights the lack of prominence or distinctiveness of something.

faintly perceived

Indicates a weak or indistinct sensory impression.

rarely observed

Stresses the infrequency of something being seen or witnessed.

infrequently detected

Focuses on the challenge of identifying or noticing something.

minimally present

Highlights the very small amount or degree of something's existence.

scarcely present

Similar to minimally present, but with added emphasis on the lack.

vaguely discernible

Implies that something can only be made out with difficulty or uncertainty.

slightly perceptible

Indicates that something is just barely noticeable.

almost unnoticeable

Highlights that it's on the verge of not being seen at all.

FAQs

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

You can use "barely seen" to describe something that is only faintly visible or rarely observed. For instance, "The moon was "barely seen" through the clouds", or "The impact of the policy change was "barely seen" in the initial reports".

What are some alternatives to "barely seen"?

Some alternatives to "barely seen" include "scarcely visible", "hardly noticeable", or "faintly perceived", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "rarely seen" instead of "barely seen"?

While both phrases suggest limited visibility, "rarely seen" emphasizes infrequency, whereas "barely seen" emphasizes faintness or difficulty in observing. The choice depends on whether you want to stress how often something is seen or how clearly it is seen.

What's the difference between "hardly seen" and "barely seen"?

The phrases "hardly seen" and "barely seen" are very similar and often interchangeable. However, "hardly seen" might subtly imply a greater degree of absence or infrequency than "barely seen", which focuses more on the minimal level of visibility.