English Dictionary
Definition hardly in British 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’.
The countryside around Stowe has hardly changed at all.
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
