Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
can-barely
idiom
/kænˈbɛrli/
Definition
Used to indicate that someone is just about able to do something but with difficulty.
Examples
- I can barely lift this box; it’s much heavier than I expected.
- She can barely keep her eyes open after studying all night.
- They can barely afford the rent this month.
Meaning
The phrase suggests a minimal ability to perform an action, often implying that it is a struggle or not done with ease.
Synonyms
- hardly
- seldom
- scarcely
