barely

Universal Words adverb 1 in a way that is just possible but only with difficulty: He could barely read and write. * The music was barely audible. * She was barely able to stand. * We barely had time to catch the train. 2 in a way that almost does not happen or exist: She barely acknowledged his presence. * There was barely any smell. 3 just; certainly not more than (a particular amount, age, time, etc.): Barely 50% of the population voted. * He was barely 20 years old and already running his own company. * They arrived barely a minute later. 4 only a very short time before: I had barely started speaking when he interrupted me. -< HARDLY