rarely definition

English

Etymology

From rare +‎ -ly.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɹɛːli/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɹɛəɹli/

  • Audio (US)

    (file)

• (New Zealand) IPA^(key): /ɹeə.liː/, or IPA^(key): /ɹeəɹliː/ (to distinguish from really)
  • Homophone: really
• Hyphenation: rare‧ly

Adverb

rarely (comparative rarelier or more rarely, superlative rareliest or most rarely)

1. Not occurring at a regular interval; seldom; not often. [from 16th c.]

   We rarely go to the theatre.

   Rarely do you ever find an eagle this far up the river.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:rarely

2. Unusually well; excellently. [from 16th c.]
3. To a rare degree; very. [from 16th c.]
   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 32, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], OCLC 946730821:

     others speake very honourably of his life and death, and in all other circumstances declare him to have beene a most excellent and rarely virtuous man.

Usage notes

It is grammatically a negative word. It therefore collocates with ever rather than never.

• Compare We rarely ever go to the theatre. with We almost never go to the theatre.

Synonyms

• barely
• hardly
• infrequently
• once in a while
• seldom
• sporadically
• scarcely
• Thesaurus:rarely

Antonyms

• frequently, usually, often

Translations

References

• rarely in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911
• rarely in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

Anagrams

• rearly