What does rarely mean?
Rarely is an adverb meaning “not often” or “seldom.” It describes something that happens infrequently, that occurs only occasionally, or that is present to an unusual degree: “The train runs rarely on weekends.” Because it already carries a negative meaning, constructions such as “not rarely” can mean “often,” while “rarely does…” is an emphatic, often formal inversion equivalent to “it is rarely the case that…”. The word is common in both speech and writing, although seldom is more typical of elevated or literary prose. Rarely also differs subtly from never: it leaves open the possibility that an event will occur, however infrequently. Its usefulness lies in expressing degrees of frequency naturally while avoiding the bluntness of no or not at all.
adverbNot often; infrequently or seldom. It is also used to indicate that something happens to an unusual degree.
- Not often; infrequently.
- To an unusual degree; exceptionally rarely or not at all.
"The museum's acclaimed collection is rarely open to the public."
"Rain falls rarely in this part of the desert."
"Such an opportunity rarely presents itself twice in a career."
Rarely is a quiet contradiction in two syllables: the word describing a low-frequency event is often heard far more often than the events it describes.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does rarely come from?
Rarely was formed in the late Middle English period by adding the suffix -ly to the adjective rare. Rare itself comes through Old English rære, a Germanic word related to Old Norse rjár and ultimately to Latin rarus, meaning “uncommon” or “scarce.” The same Latin root also underlies English words such as rarity and rareness.
How rarely is actually used
Rarely is standard in formal and informal English. In negative constructions, it can mean “almost never,” as in “she is rarely wrong.” Its placement varies: “He rarely arrives” is common, while “Rarely does he arrive” is more formal or emphatic.
Easily confused with rarely
Both can mean “not often,” but hardly also commonly means “almost not” or “with great difficulty,” whereas rarely primarily means “not often.”
Seldom and rarely are close in meaning, but seldom is more formal and literary, while rarely is common in both formal and informal contexts.