could hardly wait

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could hardly wait" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express excitement or eagerness about something that is going to happen in the future. Example: "I could hardly wait for my birthday party; I had been looking forward to it for weeks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I could hardly wait".

The New Yorker

And he could hardly wait to hit.

The New York Times - Sports

And Willie could hardly wait for Saturday.

The New Yorker

No wonder supporters could hardly wait.

The Guardian - Sport

"And I was so excited I could hardly wait".

The New Yorker

He practiced in his mind, and could hardly wait.

The New Yorker

Many cardiologists could hardly wait to get started.

The New York Times

I could hardly wait to come to grips with it".

The New York Times

I could hardly wait to get out of this place.

The New Yorker

Gary Tucker could hardly wait to get to summer camp.

The New York Times

I could hardly wait to get back to Pocantico Hills.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "could hardly wait" to convey a sense of strong anticipation and eagerness for a future event or experience. This phrase adds emphasis to the desire for something to happen quickly.

Common error

Avoid using double negatives. "Could hardly wait" already implies a strong positive desire. Do not rephrase it as "couldn't hardly wait", as this is grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could hardly wait" functions as an expression of strong anticipation or eagerness. Ludwig AI indicates that it is correct and commonly used to describe looking forward to something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

8%

Science

7%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "could hardly wait" is a common and grammatically sound way to express strong anticipation or eagerness. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is correct and indicates excitement about something. It is frequently found in news and media, conveying enthusiasm for upcoming events. While other expressions, such as "couldn't wait" or "was eager to", offer similar meanings, "could hardly wait" provides a slightly more emphatic tone. When writing, remember to avoid double negatives and use the phrase to effectively highlight your anticipation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

couldn't wait

A more common and informal alternative.

could barely wait

Indicates a slightly lesser degree of anticipation compared to "could hardly wait".

could scarcely wait

A more formal and slightly stronger expression of eagerness.

was eager to

A simple and direct way to express eagerness.

was anxious to

Conveys a sense of eagerness mixed with slight nervousness or worry.

was impatient to

Highlights the feeling of restlessness and wanting something to happen quickly.

was dying to

A more emphatic and informal expression of wanting something very much.

was itching to

Suggests a strong urge or desire to do something.

anticipated with excitement

More descriptive, emphasizing the feeling of excitement.

looked forward eagerly

A slightly more formal and detailed way of expressing anticipation.

FAQs

What does "could hardly wait" mean?

The phrase "could hardly wait" expresses a strong feeling of anticipation or eagerness for something to happen. It means someone is very excited and wants something to occur as soon as possible.

What can I say instead of "could hardly wait"?

You can use alternatives like "couldn't wait", "was eager to", or "was anxious to" depending on the context.

Is "couldn't hardly wait" grammatically correct?

No, "couldn't hardly wait" is grammatically incorrect due to the double negative. The correct phrase is "could hardly wait" or the more common alternative "couldn't wait".

How to use "could hardly wait" in a sentence?

You can use "could hardly wait" to describe your excitement about an upcoming event. For example: "I "could hardly wait" for my vacation to begin."