barely survived

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely survived" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation where someone or something just managed to survive a dangerous or difficult event. Example: After getting lost in the wilderness for three days, John barely survived by drinking rainwater and eating berries.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I barely survived".

The New York Times

They barely survived.

The New York Times

"We barely survived the winter.

The New York Times

Mr. Kwaku Bonsam barely survived.

The New York Times

The words: I barely survived.

The New York Times - Magazine

Waste Management and Xerox barely survived theirs.

The New York Times

Berlin barely survived a Soviet blockade.

The New York Times - Books

Randolph barely survived his father.

The Guardian

And apparently, he just barely survived.

The New York Times

He had barely survived his rescue exploit.

The New York Times

Their friendship barely survived the episode.

The New York Times - Style

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barely survived" to convey a sense of narrow escape from a life-threatening or severely damaging situation, adding dramatic effect to your narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "barely survived" for situations that are merely inconvenient or mildly challenging; reserve it for circumstances involving genuine peril or significant adversity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely survived" functions as a descriptive verbal phrase. Ludwig AI examples show it typically modifies a noun or pronoun, illustrating the subject's near-failure to overcome a perilous event.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Academia

15%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barely survived" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to depict a situation where someone or something narrowly escapes a dire outcome. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase typically conveys a sense of near-failure and precariousness, which is consistent with its frequent appearance in News & Media and Academic sources.

Alternatives such as "narrowly avoided disaster" or "squeaked by" can be used to convey a similar meaning. However, it's crucial to reserve "barely survived" for contexts involving genuine peril or significant adversity to maintain its impact. By understanding its proper usage and contextual nuances, writers can effectively communicate the intensity of a situation and the narrow margin of survival.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

narrowly avoided disaster

Focuses on the avoidance of a negative outcome rather than the survival aspect.

scraped through

Emphasizes the difficulty of the survival, suggesting a close call.

squeaked by

Highlights the narrow margin of success or survival.

managed to pull through

Implies effort and resilience in overcoming a challenge.

came close to perishing

Emphasizes the imminence of death or destruction.

only just made it

Underscores the last-minute nature of the survival.

pulled off a last-minute save

Highlights the dramatic and timely nature of the rescue or survival.

weathered the storm

Metaphorically describes enduring a difficult period and emerging intact.

eked out an existence

Focuses on the struggle for survival, particularly in terms of living conditions.

limped along

Suggests a weakened state during the period of survival, indicating ongoing difficulties.

FAQs

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

Use "barely survived" to describe a situation where someone or something narrowly escaped death, destruction, or a similarly dire outcome. For example, "The company "barely survived the recession"".

What are some alternatives to "barely survived"?

You can use phrases like "narrowly avoided disaster", "squeaked by", or "managed to pull through" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "barely survived" in formal writing?

Yes, "barely survived" is appropriate for formal writing when describing a situation where someone or something narrowly escaped a very difficult or dangerous situation. The level of formality depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and tone.

What's the difference between "barely survived" and "survived"?

"Barely survived" emphasizes the narrowness of the escape, implying that the outcome could have easily been fatal or disastrous. "Survived" simply states that someone or something lived through a situation, without indicating how close they came to not surviving.