can barely conceive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can barely conceive" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing difficulty in understanding or imagining something. Example: "The complexity of the universe is so vast that I can barely conceive of its true nature."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

It will be used, and used in ways we can barely conceive of at this juncture.

The New Yorker

Until we wake up at last in the Pure Land - a place we can barely conceive of - where there isn't any suffering - or even any WORD for suffering.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The US studios offer a level of money and a certain ease of working environment that the cash-strapped London theatre scene can barely conceive of.

The Guardian - Film

He then lists amounts I can barely conceive: "$100,000 for a flagship state university," rising to "at least $250,000".

The New Yorker

Marry those mechanical impulses to the abstract notion of musical interpretation and you can barely conceive the complexity of impulse and process at work.

The Guardian - Music

Even today, they can barely conceive of a scenario in which users might put as much into the network as they take out.The age of participationExactly this, however, is starting to happen.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

He can barely believe it.

The Guardian - Sport

In the end, Brookes turns philosophical: "As for how America has changed in the last quarter-century, I can barely even conceive of America as a single place, having seen so much of it, and its vast contradictions.

The New York Times - Books

There is a kind of bushfire no one can survive; the sort we could barely conceive until a decade ago.

The Guardian

And when paradigms do become unstuck, people become extraordinarily open and things become possible that at normal times can barely even be conceived of.

Huffington Post

Along with her boyfriend, a security guard named Taisheng (Chen Taishen, Taoo yearns for a better life but can barely articulate much less envision what a life beyond this peculiarly conceived simulacrum might look like.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "can barely conceive" when you want to express that something is extremely difficult to imagine or understand. It implies a significant limitation in one's ability to grasp a concept or situation.

Common error

Avoid using "can barely conceive" in situations where simple lack of knowledge is the issue, rather than a fundamental difficulty in imagining or understanding. For instance, if you're unfamiliar with quantum physics, stating "I can barely conceive of it" might be an overstatement; saying "I don't understand it" is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can barely conceive" functions as a verb phrase expressing a significant limitation in one's ability to imagine, understand, or grasp a concept. Ludwig examples highlight its usage in contexts involving abstract ideas and complex situations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Academia

20%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "can barely conceive" is a useful tool for expressing a significant limitation in one's ability to imagine or understand something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While not exceedingly common, it appears in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. Alternatives like "can scarcely imagine" or "struggle to comprehend" offer similar nuances. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects a genuine difficulty in imagining something abstract rather than a simple lack of knowledge.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

can scarcely imagine

Replaces "barely" with "scarcely", suggesting a slight reduction in the ability to imagine.

can hardly grasp

Shifts from conceiving to grasping, implying a challenge in understanding the concept.

struggle to comprehend

Emphasizes the effort involved in understanding something.

find it difficult to imagine

Uses a more descriptive phrase to convey the difficulty in forming a mental picture.

cannot fully fathom

Emphasizes the inability to completely understand or explore something.

find it hard to believe

Highlights the incredulity associated with the concept, rather than pure understanding.

cannot quite picture

Focuses on the inability to visualize something clearly.

have trouble envisioning

Implies a difficulty in creating a mental image of a future possibility.

are unable to wrap my head around

Uses a colloquial expression indicating difficulty in understanding.

fail to appreciate

Highlights a lack of understanding or acknowledgment of the full extent or implications of something.

FAQs

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

You can use "can barely conceive" to express difficulty in understanding or imagining something. For example, "The scale of the universe is so vast that I "can barely conceive" of its size".

What are some alternatives to "can barely conceive"?

Alternatives include "can scarcely imagine", "can hardly grasp", or "struggle to comprehend", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to use "can barely conceive" or "cannot understand"?

"Can barely conceive" implies a difficulty in imagining or grasping something abstract, while "cannot understand" simply indicates a lack of comprehension. Use "can barely conceive" when the issue is imagining the concept, not just understanding the facts.

What's the difference between "can barely conceive" and "find it hard to believe"?

"Can barely conceive" focuses on the difficulty in understanding or imagining a concept. "Find it hard to believe" emphasizes disbelief or incredulity regarding a statement or situation. The former is about comprehension, while the latter is about acceptance of truth.