English

Adverb

rarely ‎(comparative rarelier or more rarely, superlative rareliest or most rarely)

1. Not occurring at a regular interval; seldom; not often. [from 16th c.]

   We rarely go to the theatre.

   Rarely do you ever find an eagle this far up the river.

2. Unusually well; excellently. [from 16th c.]
3. To a rare degree; very. [from 16th c.]
   • 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essayes, London: Edward Blount, OCLC 946730821, II.32:

     others speake very honourably of his life and death, and in all other circumstances declare him to have beene a most excellent and rarely virtuous man.

Usage notes

It is grammatically a negative word. It therefore collocates with ever rather than never.

• Compare We rarely ever go to the theatre. with We almost never go to the theatre.

Synonyms

• barely
• hardly
• infrequently
• once in a while
• seldom
• sporadically
• scarcely

Antonyms

• frequently, usually, often

Translations

References

• rarely in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• rarely in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913