barely visible

USAGE SUMMARY

"barely visible" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is slight, faint, or barely perceptible. For example: The planets were barely visible in the night sky.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

And yet it sometimes seems barely visible.

The Economist

The scar underneath was barely visible.

The New Yorker

His face is shaded and barely visible.

The New York Times

The workshop itself is unspectacular, barely visible.

The New Yorker

Porter was barely visible beneath the sheets.

The New York Times

It was inadequate and barely visible.

The Guardian - Sport

From above, the windmills are barely visible.

The Guardian - Books

The lizard is barely visible at the bottom.

The New Yorker

At this stage these ripples are barely visible.

The Economist

He shivered, and his scar was barely visible.

The New Yorker

The animals are barely visible but for their haunted eyes.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing something as "barely visible", provide context about the conditions that make it so, such as lighting, distance, or obstruction.

Common error

Avoid using "barely visible" when the object is somewhat easy to see. Use it only when the object's visibility is truly at the edge of perception.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely visible" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate its low level of visibility. Ludwig's examples show its common use in describing objects that are faint, distant, or obscured.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barely visible" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe something that is difficult to see. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is usable in written English. As evidenced by the Ludwig examples, it appears most frequently in news, media and scientific contexts and it's often used to depict objects with low visibility due to distance, lighting, or other obstructions. When using this phrase, ensure the context aligns with something truly challenging to perceive. Alternatives such as "scarcely perceptible" or "faintly discernible" offer similar meanings with subtle differences in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scarcely perceptible

Emphasizes the difficulty in perceiving something, similar to "barely visible" but focuses on perception.

faintly discernible

Highlights the faintness and the ability to distinguish something, slightly more formal than "barely visible".

hardly noticeable

Focuses on how difficult it is to notice something, emphasizing the lack of prominence.

almost imperceptible

Indicates that something is nearly impossible to perceive, suggesting a very low level of visibility.

dimly visible

Specifically refers to a low level of light or brightness, making something hard to see.

indistinctly seen

Highlights the lack of clarity in seeing something, making it hard to make out details.

vaguely apparent

Emphasizes the lack of a clear or definite appearance, making something difficult to perceive accurately.

slightly detectable

Focuses on the ability to detect something, but only just, implying a minimal presence.

shadowy outline

Describes the form as being in shadow and thus hard to see, emphasizing the obscurity of the shape.

subtly revealed

Indicates that something is shown in a delicate or understated way, making it not immediately obvious.

FAQs

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

You can use "barely visible" to describe something that is difficult to see due to faintness, distance, or obstruction. For example, "The stars were barely visible through the clouds."

What phrases are similar to "barely visible"?

Similar phrases include "scarcely perceptible", "faintly discernible", or "hardly noticeable".

Is "barely visible" grammatically correct?

Yes, "barely visible" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written and spoken English. Ludwig AI confirms its validity.

What is the difference between "barely visible" and "invisible"?

"Barely visible" means something can be seen with difficulty, while "invisible" means it cannot be seen at all. "Barely visible" implies some level of perception, however faint.