rarely
/ˈrɛəli/adverb★Beginner— not often
general
not often; infrequently
He rarely visits his hometown.
He does not visit his hometown very often.
It rarely snows in this city.
Snowfall is infrequent in this city.
💡
Often used to describe something that happens very infrequently.
Collocations
rarely everalmost neverrarely if everalmost never
💡Pro Tip
Usage Tip
'Rarely' is stronger than 'seldom' but weaker than 'never.' Use it to describe something that happens very infrequently but not never.
📖Word Origin
From Middle English 'rarely,' from Old French 'rare' (rare) + '-ly' (adverb suffix).
📝Usage Notes
Often used to emphasize how infrequent an action or event is. Can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
Word Breakdown
rare
not common or frequent
root-ly
adverb suffix
suffixEnglish Dictionary