can barely see

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can barely see" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express difficulty in seeing something clearly, often due to distance, lighting, or visual impairment. Example: "As the fog rolled in, I could barely see the road ahead."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

You can barely see his face.

The New York Times - Sports

You can barely see it.

The New Yorker

We can barely see him.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

She can barely see or hear.

The New York Times

You can barely see the police".

The New York Times

People can barely see out their windshields".

The New York Times

I can barely see the postcard.

The Guardian - Travel

For a start, you can barely see them.

The Guardian - Arts

At times you can barely see what you're shooting at.

The New York Times - Tech

The fog is so thick that they can barely see.

The New Yorker

"You can barely see a beggar in Chengdu," Ge said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "can barely see" when you want to emphasize the significant difficulty in perceiving something visually. It's suitable for describing situations with poor lighting, obstructions, or visual impairments.

Common error

Avoid using "can barely see" when describing easily visible objects. Opt for simpler phrasing like "can see" or "clearly see" in those cases to maintain natural and concise writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can barely see" functions as a verb phrase expressing limited visual perception or significant difficulty in seeing. Ludwig confirms its validity and widespread use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Science

11%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "can barely see" is a common and grammatically sound way to express significant difficulty in seeing something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is frequently used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. When writing, it’s essential to use this phrase to accurately convey impaired vision and to avoid overuse in situations where visibility isn't significantly limited. Alternatives like "can hardly see" or "can dimly see" offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

can’t clearly see

Directly states the inability to see clearly.

can hardly discern

Emphasizes the difficulty in distinguishing something due to lack of clarity.

can scarcely make out

Highlights the effort required to see something that is not easily visible.

can dimly see

Suggests that the visibility is poor due to low light or other obstructions.

can't properly see

Suggests an inability to see something in an acceptable way.

can faintly perceive

Indicates a very weak or indistinct visual impression.

can vaguely make out

Implies an uncertain or imprecise visual perception.

can just make out

Suggests managing to see something with difficulty.

can partially see

Implies only seeing parts of something.

can almost see

Highlights proximity to seeing something, but not quite.

FAQs

What does "can barely see" mean?

The phrase "can barely see" means having significant difficulty seeing something. It suggests that visibility is severely limited, making it hard to perceive or distinguish objects clearly.

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

You can use "can barely see" to describe situations with poor visibility: "Due to the thick fog, I "can barely see" the road ahead." Or, to describe visual impairment: "Without my glasses, I "can barely see" the words on the page."

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

You can use alternatives like "can hardly see", "can scarcely make out", or "can dimly see" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "can barely see" or "can't barely see"?

"Can barely see" is correct. "Can't barely see" is a double negative and is grammatically incorrect. The word "barely" already implies a negative condition.