can barely hear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can barely hear" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express difficulty in hearing something or someone, often due to low volume or distance. Example: "In the crowded room, I can barely hear what you're saying."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There's really not much to see within the bare brick walls at present, and it's so loud you can barely hear yourself think, but come next fall, this is precisely where Hopkins and MICA students will gather to think about the artistic pairing of sights and sounds.

Johns Hopkins University

Grandma can barely hear.

The New Yorker

I can barely hear this.

Harvard University

I can barely hear it myself".

The New York Times - Magazine

He is talking so quietly, I can barely hear him.

The Guardian

But it's kind of underwhelming, because you can barely hear the music.

The New York Times - Sports

(Cat Power provided backing vocals, but I can barely hear her).

Independent

His vision blurs, his body tingles and he can barely hear.

The New York Times - Magazine

If you listen closely, you can barely hear Maroon 5 at all.

The New York Times

I can barely hear you over the sound of this boombox and girls' laughter.

The Guardian

The watching audience can barely hear the commentator yell, "The fairytale is complete".

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation where audibility is poor, use "can barely hear" to effectively communicate the difficulty without exaggerating complete silence. For example, "In the loud factory, I can barely hear the phone ringing."

Common error

While "can barely hear" is acceptable in many situations, avoid using it excessively in formal writing where more precise language might be preferred. Instead of saying "the speaker's voice was so soft, I can barely hear him", try "the speaker's voice was nearly inaudible".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can barely hear" functions as a descriptor of auditory perception, indicating a significant limitation in one's ability to perceive sound. Ludwig examples show this phrase used to describe difficulty hearing due to background noise, distance, or low volume.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "can barely hear" is a common and grammatically correct way to express difficulty in perceiving sound. As Ludwig's analysis indicates, this phrase functions as a descriptor of auditory perception, often used to convey that a sound is present but challenging to distinguish due to various factors like distance, noise, or low volume. While versatile, it's best suited for neutral contexts, with more formal settings potentially benefiting from more precise alternatives like "nearly inaudible". Ludwig's examples confirm its frequent use across diverse sources, highlighting its reliability in everyday communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

can hardly hear

Similar in meaning, indicating a slight difficulty in hearing.

can scarcely hear

Emphasizes the minimal ability to hear, close to not hearing at all.

can faintly hear

Highlights the weak or indistinct nature of the sound being heard.

can just make out

Indicates effort and difficulty in discerning the sound.

can only just hear

Stresses the marginal audibility of the sound.

can barely make out

Combines the difficulty of hearing with the effort of understanding.

struggle to hear

Focuses on the effort required to hear something.

have difficulty hearing

A more formal way to express the problem of hearing.

can't hear properly

Suggests a general impairment or issue affecting hearing ability.

have a hard time hearing

Highlights the challenge faced in the act of hearing.

FAQs

How to use "can barely hear" in a sentence?

You can use "can barely hear" to describe a situation where you have difficulty hearing something or someone due to a low volume or some kind of interference. For example, "I "can barely hear" you over the music".

What can I say instead of "can barely hear"?

You can use alternatives like "can hardly hear", "can scarcely hear", or "struggle to hear" depending on the context.

Is "can barely hear" the same as "can't hear"?

"Can barely hear" implies some sound is reaching you, but it's difficult to discern, whereas "can't hear" suggests complete absence of sound. They are not interchangeable; the former suggests a challenge, the latter, an impossibility.

When is it appropriate to use "can barely hear" in writing?

It's appropriate in situations where you want to express that something is audible but very difficult to make out. It works well in both informal and neutral registers, but you should consider more formal alternatives like "nearly inaudible" in academic or business contexts.