Hardly
Adverb
UK
/ˈhɑːd.li/
US
/ˈhɑːrd.li/
Definition
Used to show something happens a very small amount.
Example
"I hardly know that person."
"She hardly eats sweets because she wants to stay healthy."
"They could hardly stop laughing after hearing the funny story."
Explanation
Hardly means almost not or barely. It shows that something happens a very small amount or nearly not at all. For example, I hardly slept last night means you slept very little. It can also mean just, as in she could hardly believe the news, meaning she found it almost unbelievable. So, when you use hardly, it makes a sentence weaker, showing something is close to not happening.