Definitions for scarceskɛərs

This page provides all possible meanings and translations of the word scarce

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

scarceskɛərs(adj.; adv.)scarc•er, scarc•est

  1. (adj.)insufficient to satisfy the need or demand.

  2. rarely encountered.

  3. (adv.)scarcely.

Idioms for scarce:

  1. make oneself scarce, to leave, esp. quickly. to stay away.

    Category: Idiom

Origin of scarce:

1250–1300; ME scars < ONF (e)scars < VL *excarpsus plucked out, for L excerptus; see excerpt


Princeton's WordNet

  1. scarce(adverb)

    deficient in quantity or number compared with the demand

    "fresh vegetables were scarce during the drought"

  2. barely, hardly, just, scarcely, scarce(adverb)

    only a very short time before

    "they could barely hear the speaker"; "we hardly knew them"; "just missed being hit"; "had scarcely rung the bell when the door flew open"; "would have scarce arrived before she would have found some excuse to leave"- W.B.Yeats

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

  1. scarce(adjective)ɛərs

    ≠ plentiful

    Food and water are scarce.


  1. scarce(Adverb)

    Scarcely, only just.

  2. scarce(Adjective)

    Uncommon, rare; difficult to find; insufficient to meet a demand.

  3. Origin: From Northern scars, escars ( > French échars), from *, probably originally a participle form of *, from ex- + carpere.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Scarce


  2. Scarce

    scantily supplied (with); deficient (in); -- with of

  3. Scarce

    sparing; frugal; parsimonious; stingy

  4. Scarce(adverb)

    alt. of Scarcely


  1. Scarce

    Scarce is an Alternative rock band formed in Rhode Island, New York, USA. They were active from 1993 to 1997, and reformed in 2008.

Translations for scarce

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary


not many or enough in number

Paintings by this artist are very scarce; Food is scarce because of the drought.

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