Meaning of hardly In English

• 0 only just; almost not:

  • I could hardly hear her at the back.

  • The party had hardly started when she left.

  • He hardly ate anything/He ate hardly anything.

  • We hardly ever (= almost never) go to concerts.

  • Hardly had a moment passed before the door creaked open.

• 1 certainly not:

  • You can hardly expect a pay rise when you've only been working for the company for two weeks!

  • Well don't be angry with me - it's hardly my fault that it's raining!

• 2 only just or almost not:

  • Hardly a day passes that I don’t think about it.

  • You’ve hardly eaten anything.

  • Something is wrong with the phone – I can hardly hear you.

  • I can hardly wait for your visit.

  • We hardly ever see them anymore.

• 3 certainly not:

  • It’s hardly surprising that he was angry.