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Narrowly vs Barely - What's the difference?

narrowly | barely |

As adverbs the difference between narrowly and barely

is that narrowly is in a narrow manner; without flexibility or latitude while barely is by a small margin.

narrowly

English

Adverb

(en adverb)
  • In a narrow manner; without flexibility or latitude.
  • They regarded the new idea rather narrowly .
  • *
  • There is now such an immense "microliterature" on hepatics that, beyond a certain point I have given up trying to integrate (and evaluate) every minor paper published—especially narrowly floristic papers.
  • By a narrow margin; closely.
  • They narrowly escaped collision.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=October 29 , author=Neil Johnston , title=Norwich 3 - 3 Blackburn , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=The visitors had not managed an away win in the top flight since the final day of last season, but Mauro Formica set the tone in the second minute with a rasping 25-yard drive which flew narrowly wide.}}

    barely

    English

    Adverb

    (-)
  • (degree) By a small margin.
  • * 1748 , , Oxford University Press (1973), section 8:
  • It becomes, therefore, no inconsiderable part of science barely to know the different operations of mind,
  • * 1925 , Walter Anthony and Tom Reed (titles), Rupert Julian (director), The Phantom of the Opera , silent movie
  • It is barely possible you may hear of a ghost, a Phantom of the Opera!’
  • (degree) Almost not at all.
  • The plane is so far away now I can barely see it.
    Yes, it is barely visible.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011
  • , date=October 23 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Man Utd 1 - 6 Man City , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=In contrast to what was to come, City were barely allowed any time to settle on the ball in the opening exchanges, with Ashley Young prominent and drawing heavy fouls from Micah Richards and James Milner.}}
  • (archaic) merely.
  • * 1661 , , page 29,
  • Now that fire do's not alwayes barely separate the Elementary parts, but sometimes at least alter also the Ingredients of Bodies

    Usage notes

    It is grammatically a negative word. It therefore collocates with ever rather than never. * Compare You can find barely ever used items on eBay.'' with ''You can almost never find used items on eBay.

    Synonyms

    * (degree) hardly, scarcely * hardly, just, only just, scarcely