Basic Details
Word: Scarcely
Part of Speech: Adverb
Meaning: Almost not; only just; hardly.
Synonyms: Barely, hardly, rarely
Antonyms: Abundantly, frequently, easily
Idioms and Phrases
- Scarcely a moment: Used to describe a very short amount of time. Example: "She had scarcely a moment to gather her belongings before the train left."
- Scarcely believable: Something that is hard to believe. Example: "His story about meeting a dragon was scarcely believable."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The kitten was scarcely big enough to climb onto the sofa without help.
Example 2: After studying for the test, I scarcely had time to relax before bedtime.
Example 3: She scarcely remembered the details of the trip because it happened so long ago.
Fun Fact
The word "scarcely" comes from the Old English word "scearc," which means "scarce" or "rare." It has been used since the 15th century to indicate something that is limited or hardly present.
Famous Quote
"Scarcely any event can be held in a human mind without the heart being interwoven in the bonds of memory." - John Milton
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "scarcely" mean?
a) Abundantly
b) Almost not
c) Frequently
d) Easily
Answer: b) Almost not
2. Which of these is a synonym of "scarcely"?
a) Barely
b) Often
c) Totally
d) Quickly
Answer: a) Barely
3. Which of these is an antonym of "scarcely"?
a) Hardly
b) Rarely
c) Abundantly
d) Scarcely
Answer: c) Abundantly
4. Which sentence uses "scarcely" correctly?
a) There were scarcely enough chairs for everyone at the party.
b) She was scarcely taller than the tree.
c) I can scarcely wait for my birthday to arrive!
d) The sky was scarcely blue in a storm.
Answer: a) There were scarcely enough chairs for everyone at the party.
5. What does the phrase "scarcely believable" imply?
a) Very easy to believe
b) Hard to believe
c) Commonly known
d) True in every way
Answer: b) Hard to believe
