Collocations for "barely"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "barely" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
barely
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.adv
- am barely able (to)
- is barely over [21]
- has been barely [a year] (since)
- was barely visible through the [fog, snow, rain, darkness]
- can barely see anything (through)
- were barely [holding on, treading water, hanging on]
- is barely noticeable
- was barely audible
- a barely audible [word, sound, hum]
- a barely used [car, phone]
- is barely enough [space to, money for]
- barely even remember (that)!
- barely even noticed
- barely know [how, what, where]
- can barely make out the [text, words]
- can barely be considered a
- can barely stand (anymore)
- was barely conscious
- the news barely registered [with him, in Europe]
- barely had (enough) time (to)
- was barely enough time [for, before, until]
- just barely made it (in time)
- had just barely enough (for)
- had barely [begun, started]
- had barely [arrived, opened the door] when
- barely ever [speaks, forgets, knows]
- sexually explicit: barely legal [teens, girls]
'barely' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Russian
- able
- acceptable
- achieve
- adequate
- alive
- apartment
- beard
- better
- change
- clearance
- comprehend
- concealed
- conscious
- contact
- contain
- crisis
- darkness
- deterrent
- direction
- dusk
- edible
- effect
- empathy
- entertaining
- excite
- eyelid
- famous
- flicker
- flinch
- fog
- glimpse
- glow
- haze
- human
- hurt
- kernel
- know
- laughter
- loaded
- membership
- mobile
- money
- naked
- notable
- noteworthy
- noticeable
- nowadays
- nudge
- pace