rarely
Not often or almost never. It is used to describe an action that happens very few times or on very few occasions.
Examples
3 of 5I rarely drink coffee in the evening.
I almost never drink coffee at night.
The President rarely gives interviews to the public.
The President almost never speaks to news reporters.
He rarely goes to the gym these days.
He almost never exercises at the gym now.
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of a 'rare' steak—it's not 'well done' or 'finished' often; it's something you only see or eat every once in a while.
Quick Quiz
She is very busy, so she ___ watches television.
Correct!
The correct answer is: rarely
Examples
I rarely drink coffee in the evening.
everydayI almost never drink coffee at night.
The President rarely gives interviews to the public.
formalThe President almost never speaks to news reporters.
He rarely goes to the gym these days.
informalHe almost never exercises at the gym now.
Such results are rarely observed in controlled experiments.
academicThese results are almost never seen in scientific tests.
The company rarely makes exceptions to its refund policy.
businessThe company almost never changes its rules for refunds.
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
once in a blue moon
very rarely
very rarely
almost never
rarely if ever
almost never, or possibly never
Often Confused With
Barely means 'only just' or 'almost not', while rarely refers to how often something happens.
Real describes something that is true or actual, whereas rarely is an adverb of frequency.
Usage Notes
Rarely is usually placed before the main verb but after the auxiliary verb 'be'. In formal writing, if you start a sentence with 'Rarely', you must swap the subject and the verb (e.g., 'Rarely do I...').
Common Mistakes
Learners often place 'rarely' at the end of a sentence like 'I see him rarely,' which is less natural than 'I rarely see him.'
Memory Tip
Think of a 'rare' steak—it's not 'well done' or 'finished' often; it's something you only see or eat every once in a while.
Word Origin
From the Latin word 'rarus', which means thin, loose, or uncommon.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In English-speaking cultures, using 'rarely' is often a polite way to say 'never' without being too direct.
Quick Quiz
She is very busy, so she ___ watches television.
Correct!
The correct answer is: rarely
Related Grammar Rules
Related Vocabulary
More Time words
lifetime
A1A lifetime is the entire period of time that a person is alive. It can also refer to the length of time that an object, like a machine, works correctly.
Monday
A1Monday is the day of the week between Sunday and Tuesday. In many parts of the world, it is regarded as the first day of the working and school week.
Tuesday
A1Tuesday is the third day of the week, positioned between Monday and Wednesday. In most Western cultures and business environments, it is regarded as the second day of the standard work week.
Thursday
A1Thursday is the day of the week that comes after Wednesday and before Friday. It is typically considered the fourth day of the working week in most Western countries.
Saturday
A1Saturday is the day of the week that follows Friday and comes before Sunday. It is widely considered the first day of the weekend and is typically a day for rest or leisure in many cultures.
Sunday
A1Sunday is the seventh day of the week, positioned between Saturday and Monday. In many parts of the world, it is considered the final day of the weekend and is typically a day for rest or religious activities.
weekend
A1The weekend is the period of time at the end of the week, typically including Saturday and Sunday. It is generally a time when people do not work or attend school and use the time for rest or leisure.
yesterday
A1Yesterday refers to the day immediately before today. It is used to describe events, actions, or states that occurred in the very recent past, specifically one day ago.
day after tomorrow
A1The day that comes after the one that follows today. It refers to a point in time two days into the future from the current day.
day before yesterday
A1The day that occurred immediately before yesterday, referring to two days ago from today. It is used to pinpoint a specific time in the recent past in relation to the current day.
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