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View synonyms for rarely

rarely

[ rair-lee ]

adverb

  1. on rare occasions; infrequently; seldom:

    I'm rarely late for appointments.

  2. exceptionally; in an unusual degree.
  3. unusually or remarkably well; excellent.


rarely

/ ˈrɛəlɪ /

adverb

  1. hardly ever; seldom

    I'm rarely in town these days

  2. to an unusual degree; exceptionally
  3. dialect.
    uncommonly well; excellently

    he did rarely at market yesterday

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Usage

Since rarely means hardly ever , one should not say something rarely ever happens
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Word History and Origins

Origin of rarely1

First recorded in 1515–25; rare 1 + -ly
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Example Sentences

In 2020, the 40 biggest hits rarely hit 30 million streams, according to Quartz’s analysis of Spotify data.

From Quartz

While these happen relatively commonly in the real world, they rarely happen during candidate speeches or video calls, which are prime targets during an election season.

This is why you rarely smell when you’re blasting through a workout but no one wants to be around you an hour later.

In his studies of coyote diets, he’s rarely found remains of pets or signs of human food, pet food or garbage.

Patients with mental health conditions rarely receive discounted passes.

It is grandstanding for a right rarely protected unless under immediate attack.

Morris struggled to straighten his back, which involved stiffening a spine rarely used.

They had rarely seen their own fathers carry small children unless their mothers were ill.

For those living in poor communities in particular, interactions with police rarely come with good news and a smile.

The penalty is only rarely imposed, as members often resign before they can be voted out of Congress.

The Vine is a universal favorite, and rarely out of view; while it often seems to cover half the ground in sight.

The case may be kept in a light position, and when once under way it will rarely need any additional water.

She has boldly reproduced upon canvas a fulness of life and joy, such as is rarely seen in pictures.

Rarely, sodium urate occurs in crystalline form—slender prisms, arranged in fan- or sheaf-like structures (Fig. 32).

They always imply desquamation of epithelium, which rarely occurs except in parenchymatous inflammations (Figs. 60 and 61).

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rare gasrarely ever