Scarce

/ˈskɛəs/ · adjective

Meaning

(chiefly of resources, such as food) Uncommon, rare; difficult to find; insufficient to meet a demand..

Definitions by Sense

1. (chiefly of resources, such as food) Uncommon, rare; difficult to find; insufficient to meet a demand.
2. Scantily supplied (with); deficient (in); used with of.
3. (archaic, literary) Scarcely, only just.

Example Sentences

By the end of the 20th century elephants had become scarce even in Africa.

You tell him silver is scarcer now in England, and therefore risen in value one fifth.

My hopes wa'n't disappointed. I never saw clams thicker than they was along them inshore flats. I filled my dreener in no time, and then it come to me that 'twouldn't be a bad idee to get a lot more, take 'em with me to Wellmouth, and peddle 'em out. Clams was fairly scarce over that side of the bay and ought to fetch a fair price.

The project failed due to the scarce resources in the national market.

a region scarce of prey

The Virgin quite for her requeſt / The God that ſits at marriage feaſt; / He at their invoking came / But with a ſcarce-wel-lighted flame; / And in his Garland as he ſtood, / Ye might diſcern a Cipreſs bud.

I was at the Mathematical School, where the Maſter taught his Pupils after a Method ſcarce imaginable to us in Europe. The Propoſition and Demonſtration were fairly written on a thin Wafer, with Ink compoſed of a Cephalick Tincture. This the Student was to ſwallow upon a faſting Stomach, and for three days following eat nothing but Bread and Water. As the Wafer digeſted, the Tincture mounted to his Brain, bearing the Propoſition along with it.

And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door, / That I scarce was sure I heard you […]

Synonyms for scarce

Antonyms for scarce

Related Words

Word Forms

• scarcer
• scarcest
• scarse
• scace

Usage Notes

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