scarce

UK: /ˈskɛə^rs/ US: /skɛrs/ ,(skârs)

Inflections of 'scarce' (adj):

scarcer

adj comparative

scarcest

adj superlative

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

scarce /skɛrs/   adj., scarc•er, scarc•est, adv. 
adj. 

1. insufficient:
   [often: be + ~] Jobs are scarce in difficult times.
2. rarely found or seen.

adv. 

3. scarcely:
   She could scarce believe her eyes.

Idioms

4. Idioms make oneself scarce, [no object]
   • to leave, esp. quickly:
     This party is boring; let's make ourselves scarce.
   • to stay away.

scarce•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

scarce  (skârs), adj., scarc•er, scarc•est, adv. 
adj. 

1. insufficient to satisfy the need or demand;
   not abundant:
   Meat and butter were scarce during the war.
2. seldom met with;
   rare:
   a scarce book.
3. Idioms make oneself scarce, [Informal.]
   • to depart, esp. suddenly.
   • to stay away;
     avoid.

adv. 

4. scarcely.

• Vulgar Latin *excarpsus plucked out, for Latin excerptus; see excerpt
• Old North French (e)scars
• Middle English scars 1250–1300

scarce′ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. deficient.
• 2. uncommon, infrequent.

Antonyms

• 1. abundant.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

scarce / skɛəs/ adjective

1. rarely encountered
2. insufficient to meet the demand
3. make oneself scarce ⇒ to go away, esp suddenly

adverb

1. scarcely

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old Norman French scars, from Vulgar Latin excarpsus (unattested) plucked out, from Latin excerpere to select; see excerpt

ˈscarceness noun