barely time

USAGE SUMMARY

"barely time" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate something taking a small amount of time. For example: "We had barely time to finish the project before the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There's barely time to pause to think.

The Guardian - Sport

Sometimes there is barely time to pause for thought.

The Guardian - Sport

How there's barely time for after-school activities.

The New York Times - Tech

We had nothing... .. Truly, there was barely time for emotion.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

There was barely time to restart the match.

The Guardian - Sport

THERE was barely time for the late summer monsoon to wash away the blood.

The Economist

They were selling so fast, there was barely time to notice the $65 price tag.

The New York Times - Sports

We have arrived late, with barely time to do some rides before the fireworks start.

The New York Times - Travel

There is barely time to raise a glass to this year's nominees.

The Guardian - Film

I've barely time to feel pleased before I career into a wall.

The Guardian - Travel

9.31am GMT There's barely time to pause for breath before we go again.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barely time" to convey urgency or a lack of opportunity for extensive action or preparation. For example, "There's "barely time" to grab a coffee before the meeting starts."

Common error

Avoid using "barely time" when there is absolutely no time available. "Barely time" implies a small window of opportunity, not a complete absence of it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely time" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating that there is a very limited amount of time available for something. This is supported by Ludwig, which confirms that it's usable in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "barely time" is a frequently used phrase that effectively communicates a scarcity of time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English, and is predominantly found in News & Media contexts. While grammatically sound, it's important to use it accurately, implying a small window rather than no time at all. Alternatives like "hardly any time" or "scarcely any time" can offer nuanced variations, but "barely time" remains a clear and common choice for expressing urgency or limited availability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually no time

Emphasizes the lack of time more strongly than "barely time".

hardly any time

Similar in meaning but slightly more emphatic than "barely time".

scarcely any time

Uses "scarcely" to highlight the limited amount of time available.

little to no time

Indicates a near absence of time, making it slightly stronger.

almost no time

Highlights that the time available is close to zero.

just enough time

Focuses on having the minimum time needed, with a nuance of barely making it.

a dearth of time

Emphasizes a significant lack of time, using a more formal tone.

a scarcity of time

Highlights the limited availability of time, similar to "a dearth of time".

not enough time

A straightforward way of expressing that the time is insufficient.

a tight schedule

Indicates that time is limited due to a packed agenda.

FAQs

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

You can use "barely time" to indicate a scarcity of time for an activity. For example, "We had "barely time" to pack before the flight."

What phrases can I use instead of "barely time"?

You can use alternatives like "hardly any time", "scarcely any time", or "almost no time" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "there's barely time" or "there is barely time"?

Both "there's barely time" and "there is barely time" are grammatically correct and acceptable. The contracted form "there's" is more common in informal contexts.

How does the meaning of "barely time" differ from "just enough time"?

"Barely time" suggests a minimum amount of time, possibly creating stress or haste. "Just enough time" implies having precisely the necessary time, without excess, but not necessarily with stress.