hardly ever
/ˈhɑːdli ˈɛvər/adverb★Intermediate— almost never
informal
almost never; very rarely
He hardly ever goes to the gym.
He goes to the gym very rarely.
They hardly ever argue about politics.
They almost never argue about politics.
💡
Used to emphasize that something happens very infrequently or almost never.
Related Phrases
💡Pro Tip
Usage Tip
Use 'hardly ever' to describe actions or events that occur very infrequently.
⚡Gold Rule
Grammar Rule
'Hardly ever' is typically used with the simple present tense.
📖Word Origin
Combination of 'hardly' (barely, scarcely) and 'ever' (at any time).
📝Usage Notes
Often used in negative or interrogative sentences to emphasize rarity.
Word Breakdown
hardly
barely, scarcely
adverbever
at any time
adverbEnglish Dictionary