Hardly

/ˈhɑːrdli/

Meaning & Definition

adverb

Barely; only just; not quite.

She hardly had time to finish her homework before dinner.

To a very small degree; scarcely.

He hardly knew anyone at the party.

Used to indicate that something is unlikely or improbable.

It was hardly surprising that they won the match.

With difficulty; barely.

After the accident, he could hardly walk.

Expressing disbelief or negation.

I could hardly believe my ears when she told me the news.

From Middle English herdli, equivalent to hard + -ly.

hardly anyone:

Almost no one; very few people.

hardly a:

Used to indicate that something is not the case at all.

hardly believable:

Difficult to believe; not likely true.

Very little; almost not at all.

I hardly even care about it anymore.

Used to emphasize a contradiction.

A celebrity? Hardly!