hardly

//ˈhɑːdli//
B1Frequency Level 7Neutral
Visual representation of hardly

Adverb

1

Almost not; barely; only just

I can hardly hear you.

2

Certainly not; used to emphasize that something is not the case

It's hardly a surprise that she won the competition.

3

Only a very short time before; scarcely

I had hardly sat down when the phone rang.