Scarce

Pronunciation: /skɛrs/

Definitions of scarce

adjective scarce is used to describe something that is in short supply or hard to find

Example Sentences

A1 Water was scarce in the desert.

A2 Fresh produce can be scarce in the winter.

B1 Job opportunities are scarce in this small town.

B2 Resources are becoming scarce due to overpopulation.

C1 Scarce funding has limited the progress of the research project.

C2 The artist's rare paintings are highly sought after due to their scarcity.

Examples of scarce in a Sentence

formal Resources in this region are scarce due to the ongoing drought.

informal It's hard to find good help these days, skilled workers are scarce.

slang Man, tickets for that concert are scarce, you better get them fast!

figurative Love can be scarce in a world full of hate and indifference.

Grammatical Forms of scarce

• past tense: scarced
• plural: scarces
• comparative: scarcer
• superlative: scarcest
• present tense: scarce
• future tense: will scarce
• perfect tense: have scarced
• continuous tense: is scarc ing
• singular: scarce
• positive degree: scarce
• infinitive: to scarce
• gerund: scarc ing
• participle: scarced

Origin and Evolution of scarce

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old French

Story behind the word: The word 'scarce' originated from the Old French word 'escars' meaning 'rare' or 'sparse'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'scarce' has retained its meaning of something being in short supply or insufficient, but has also evolved to be used in a broader context to describe anything that is limited or hard to come by.