American Dictionary
Definition hardly in American English
hardly
adverb
What are red words?
Around 90% of spoken and written English relies on just 7,500 common words.
These words are highlighted in red and are ranked using a star system.
- One-star words are commonly used
- Two-star words are even more common
- Three-star words are the most frequently used
adverb
What are red words?
Around 90% of spoken and written English relies on just 7,500 common words.These words are highlighted in red and are ranked using a star system.
- One-star words are commonly used
- Two-star words are even more common
- Three-star words are the most frequently used
Hardly is a negative word and is often used with words like “any” and “ever,” but it should not be used with other negative words: We hardly ever do anything interesting.
Hardly comes before the main verb of a sentence, but when there is a modal or auxiliary verb, hardly usually comes after it: I can hardly breathe.You have hardly done any work.
In stories and in formal English, hardly is sometimes used at the beginning of a sentence before an auxiliary verb: Hardly had she begun to speak, when there was a shout from the back of the hall.
Hardly is not related to the word “hard.”
It's hardly surprising that people are starting to complain.
David's almost twenty-four - hardly a child.
This is hardly the time to start discussing finances.
used for answering "no," when you think someone has suggested something that is impossible
