Meaning & Definition of word "Rarely"
Rarely
/ˈrɛərli/
adverb:
- 1. Not often; seldom.
- Example: She rarely visits her hometown since moving away.
- 2. Infrequently; occasionally.
- Example: The artist rarely exhibits her work, making each show a special event.
- 3. Not common; few and far between.
- Example: He rarely goes out to eat, preferring to cook at home.
- 4. Used to indicate that something does not happen often.
- Example: They rarely travel abroad due to their busy schedules.
- 5. Implying that something unusual or extraordinary occurs at long intervals.
- Example: It rarely snows here, which is why the children were so excited.
Etymology
●From Middle English 'rarelie', equivalent to 'rare' + '-ly'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
once in a blue moon:
Very rarely.
once in a while:
Occasionally, but not often.
a rare breed:
Something that is uncommon.
Related Words
seldom:
Not often; rarely.
infrequent:
Not occurring often.
occasional:
Happening from time to time.
Slang Meanings of rarely
Meaning: Ain't gonna happen.
● Example Sentence: He rarely shows up to the party, so don't expect him.
Meaning: Not my style.
● Example Sentence: I rarely dress up for events, it's just not my style.