meager attendance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "meager attendance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where very few people are present at an event or gathering. Example: "The concert was disappointing due to the meager attendance, with only a handful of fans showing up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The club, long beleaguered by meager attendance, wants badly to relocate to San Jose, to draw fans, and, yes, make and spend money.

The New York Times - Sports

It was an overcast Saturday evening, rain on the way, but that only partly explained the meager attendance to watch the Bears play the Quebec Capitales in an independent Can-Am League game.

The New York Times - Sports

The British Film Institute, the academy's top peer in the English-speaking world, launched a Museum of the Moving Image in 1988, only to dismantle it 11 years later because of meager attendance.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

At B.U., where he coached from 1978 to 1983, attendance at games was meager, news media attention scant, and so, he said, he felt that he could make mistakes "and nobody would notice what I was doing wrong".

The New York Times - Sports

Appetites were meager.

The New York Times

That looks meager.

The New York Times

The results were meager.

The New York Times

"Pill," Sharkey Meager said.

The New Yorker

But wages are meager.

The New York Times

We have a meager budget".

The New York Times

School attendance?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an event with few attendees, use "meager attendance" to convey disappointment or a sense of something lacking. It's especially effective when contrasting it with expectations or past events.

Common error

Avoid using "meager attendance" in very informal or colloquial contexts. While generally acceptable, it carries a slightly formal tone and might sound out of place in casual conversation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "meager attendance" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "meager" modifies the noun "attendance". It describes the quantity or extent of attendance at an event. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "meager attendance" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a situation where an event has a very low turnout. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It's most commonly found in news and media contexts, carrying a neutral tone. While perfectly acceptable, remember that it might sound slightly formal in very informal settings. If you're looking for alternatives, consider options like "low turnout" or "sparse attendance" to convey the same meaning with potentially different nuances. Use "meager attendance" when you want to describe an event negatively because of a low presence of audience or participants.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

low turnout

Focuses on the act of turning out or attending, emphasizing the lack of participants.

sparse attendance

Highlights the thin distribution of attendees, suggesting few people scattered throughout the venue.

poor attendance

Directly assesses the attendance as being of low quality or insufficient.

thin crowd

Emphasizes the small size and density of the crowd present.

small turnout

Similar to low turnout, but focuses more on the event itself and the number of people attending.

light attendance

Uses 'light' to describe the attendance, indicating a smaller number of people than expected.

limited participation

Shifts the focus to the act of participating, highlighting that few people took part.

weak attendance

A more general assessment of the attendance being inadequate or deficient.

dismal attendance

Conveys a sense of disappointment and failure due to the low number of attendees.

scant attendance

Emphasizes the insufficiency and lack of attendees.

FAQs

What does "meager attendance" mean?

"Meager attendance" refers to a situation where very few people are present at an event or gathering, implying a lower turnout than expected or desired.

What can I say instead of "meager attendance"?

You can use alternatives like "low turnout", "sparse attendance", or "poor attendance" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "meager attendance" formal or informal?

"Meager attendance" is generally considered to be neutral in tone and suitable for most writing contexts, though it may sound slightly formal in very casual conversation.

How can I use "meager attendance" in a sentence?

Example: "The play received positive reviews, but the theater suffered from "meager attendance" throughout its run.".