adjective only just sufficient in amount; scarcely
adverb used to indicate that something is only just possible or likely
In finance, the term 'barely' may be used to describe a situation where an individual or company is just able to meet financial obligations or expenses.
In healthcare, 'barely' can be used to describe a patient who is just able to recover from a serious illness or injury.
In sports, 'barely' can be used to describe a close victory or a narrow margin of victory in a game or competition.
In academics, 'barely' may be used to describe a student who just passes a test or a course with a minimal grade.
In a professional context, 'barely' can be used by a writer to convey that something is just barely happening or existing, adding a sense of minimalism or near impossibility to a situation or description.
Psychologists may use 'barely' to describe a patient's ability to cope or function, indicating that they are just managing to get by or are struggling to maintain a certain level of functioning.
An accountant may use 'barely' to describe a company's financial situation, indicating that they are just managing to stay afloat or are operating with very little margin for error.
In engineering, 'barely' could be used to describe the minimum acceptable level of performance or safety in a design or system, indicating that it is just meeting the required standards.
Lawyers may use 'barely' to describe the strength of a case or argument, indicating that it is just strong enough to potentially succeed or that it is on shaky ground.