rarely
/'reəli/
Definition
Adverb: * Not often; seldom: Used to indicate that something happens on very few occasions or with very low frequency.
Usage
- Position: Typically placed before the main verb or after the first auxiliary verb in a sentence.
- She rarely goes to the cinema. (Before the main verb 'goes')
- He has rarely been late. (After the auxiliary verb 'has')
- Function: Expresses a low frequency of occurrence. It is stronger than "occasionally" or "sometimes" and is similar in strength to "seldom."
Examples
Advanced Usage
- Inversion for Emphasis: In formal or literary English, when "rarely" begins a sentence, it is followed by an inverted subject-verb order (similar to a question).
- Rarely do we see such dedication. (Instead of: We rarely see such dedication.)
- Rarely has a film moved me so deeply.
- "Very rarely" / "So rarely": Can be modified with "very" or "so" for added emphasis on the extreme infrequency.
- It very rarely snows here.
- He visits so rarely that I barely know him anymore.
Variants and Related Words
- Rare (adjective): Not occurring very often; uncommon.
- A rare species of bird.
- Rarity (noun): The state of being rare; a rare thing.
- Snow in this region is a rarity.
Synonyms
- Seldom: Not often; rarely. (Often used interchangeably with "rarely.")
- Infrequently: Not occurring often; at long intervals.
- Hardly ever: Almost never. (Slightly stronger than "rarely.")
Antonyms
- Often
- Frequently
- Usually
- Commonly
Related Phrases
- Once in a blue moon: An idiom meaning "very rarely."
- He calls his parents once in a blue moon.
- Few and far between: An idiom meaning "rare and occurring with much time between instances."
- Good job offers like that are few and far between.
Adverb
-
not often
-
we rarely met
-
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