Barely/ˈberli/ Definition 1 of 2Pro Tip 1/3Subtle Difference Use 'barely' to emphasize how narrowly something was achieved or missed. She barely passed the exam, with a score of 51 out of 100. Pro Tip 2/3Time Sensitivity 'Barely' often conveys a sense of relief or urgency related to time. I barely caught the train before it left the station. Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Weight Using 'barely' can add a dramatic effect to a sentence, highlighting difficulty or tension. He could barely breathe as he reached the mountain peak.