narrowly
NA-roh-lee
Narrowly (adv) means By a small margin; barely. Example: “She narrowly avoided being hit by the car.”
adv
1
By a small margin; barely.
"She narrowly avoided being hit by the car."
"The team narrowly won the match in the final minute."
"We narrowly missed the last train and had to wait an hour for the next one."
2
In a narrow, restrictive, or inflexible way.
"The rule was interpreted too narrowly by the committee."
"If you read the instructions too narrowly, you might miss what they are really asking for."
"The teacher did not want pupils to think narrowly about what counts as a good story."
How to use narrowly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBy only a small margin, or in a restrictive/limited way.
Common pairings
narrowly avoid
narrowly missed
narrowly defined
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more narrowly
- Superlative
- most narrowly
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She _____ avoided being hit by the car.
Etymology
From Middle English narowly, formed from narrow plus "-ly".
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for narrowly
See all rhymes for narrowly →Frequently asked questions
What does “narrowly” mean?
The word “narrowly” means by a small margin; barely. In plain terms, by only a small margin, or in a restrictive/limited way.
How do you pronounce “narrowly”?
“Narrowly” is pronounced NA-roh-lee (/ˈnæɹoʊli/ in IPA).
How do you use “narrowly” in a sentence?
Here is “narrowly” used in a sentence: “She narrowly avoided being hit by the car.”
What is another word for “narrowly”?
Words with a similar meaning to “narrowly” include closely.
What is the opposite of “narrowly”?
The opposite of “narrowly” — its antonyms — is widely.
What part of speech is “narrowly”?
“Narrowly” is an adverb.
Where does the word “narrowly” come from?
The word “narrowly” comes from Middle English. From Middle English narowly, formed from narrow plus "-ly".
Is “narrowly” a common word?
“Narrowly” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between narrowly and barely?
Both "narrowly" and "barely" can describe something happening by a small margin, such as narrowly avoiding an accident, and in this sense they are close synonyms. However, "narrowly" also has a second meaning describing a restrictive or inflexible way of thinking, a sense "barely" does not share.
What does it mean to interpret something narrowly?
To interpret something narrowly means to view or apply it in a narrow, restrictive, or inflexible way, focusing strictly on a limited scope rather than a broader interpretation. This usage is common in legal and analytical contexts, such as "the court interpreted the law narrowly."
Is narrowly usually used with negative outcomes like losing or missing?
"Narrowly" frequently pairs with verbs describing near-misses or close outcomes, such as "narrowly avoided," "narrowly missed," or "narrowly lost," emphasizing that something happened by a very small margin. It can also describe narrowly won victories, so it applies to both favorable and unfavorable close outcomes.
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