From hard +‎ ly.



hardly (comparative hardlier or more hardly, superlative hardliest or most hardly)

  1. (manner, obsolete) Firmly, vigorously, with strength or exertion.
  2. (manner, archaic) Harshly, severely.
    I can't really deal hardly with people.
  3. (now rare) With difficulty.
    • 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essayes, London: Edward Blount, OCLC 946730821, Folio Society, 2006, vol.1, p.234:
      And what gentle flame soever doth warme the heart of young virgins, yet are they hardly drawne to leave and forgoe their mothers, to betake them to their husbands [].
    • 1977, John Le Carré, The Honourable Schoolboy, Folio Society 2010, page 40:
      While in Chelsea, Anne Smiley pined, taking very hardly to her unaccustomed role of wife abandoned.
  4. (degree) Barely, only just, almost not.
    • 2011 November 3, David Ornstein, “Macc Tel-Aviv 1-2 Stoke”, in BBC Sport:
      With this the second of three games in seven days for Stoke, it was hardly surprising to see nine changes from the side that started against Newcastle in the Premier League on Monday.
    they hardly ever watch television;  I hardly think they'll come in this bad weather;  it's hardly possible he could lose the election.

Usage notesEdit

In the sense "barely", it is grammatically a negative word. It therefore collocates with ever rather than never.

  • Compare example sentence with I almost never watch television






  1. Not really.
    I think the Beatles are a really overrated band. ― Hardly!


Most common English words before 1923: master · latter · fellow · #592: hardly · wind · drew · strength