1scarcely (used to qualify a statement by saying that it is true to an insignificant degree):the little house in which he lived was hardly bigger than a huta thing hardly bigger than a credit cardwe hardly know each other
only a very short time before:the party had hardly started when the police arrived
only with great difficulty:she could hardly sit upI nodded, hardly able to breath
no or not (suggesting surprise at or disagreement with a statement):I hardly think so
