SCARCE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does scarce mean? 

• SCARCE (adjective)
  The adjective SCARCE has 1 sense:

1. deficient in quantity or number compared with the demand

  Familiarity information: SCARCE used as an adjective is very rare.

• SCARCE (adverb)
  The adverb SCARCE has 2 senses:

1. only a very short time before

2. almost not

  Familiarity information: SCARCE used as an adverb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SCARCE (adjective)

Comparative: scarcer   
Superlative: scarcest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Deficient in quantity or number compared with the demand

Context example:

fresh vegetables were scarce during the drought

Similar:

rare (not widely distributed)

tight (affected by scarcity and expensive to borrow)

Also:

meager; meagerly; meagre; scrimpy; stingy (deficient in amount or quality or extent)

Attribute:

quantity (an adequate or large amount)

Antonym:

abundant (present in great quantity)

Derivation:

scarceness; scarcity (a small and inadequate amount)

• SCARCE (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Only a very short time before

Synonyms:

barely; hardly; just; scarce; scarcely

Context example:

would have scarce arrived before she would have found some excuse to leave

Sense 2

Meaning:

Almost not

Synonyms:

barely; hardly; scarce; scarcely

Context example:

we were so far back in the theater, we could barely read the subtitles

 Context examples 

But, with your favor, friend, I must gather my arrows again, for while a shaft costs a penny a poor man can scarce leave them sticking in wayside stumps.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I had scarce time to think—scarce time to act and save myself.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

The clerk, besides, was a man of counsel; he could scarce read so strange a document without dropping a remark; and by that remark Mr. Utterson might shape his future course.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

There was scarce room for the whirl of his great arms as he talked.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The lipoblasts may be scarce, depending on the age of the patient.

(Lipoblastoma, NCI Thesaurus)

"Meat is scarce," answered his comrade.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

“As to the King,” said he, “of course, I am l’ami de famille there; and even with you I can scarce speak freely, as my relations are confidential.”

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He danced only four dances, though gentlemen were scarce; and, to my certain knowledge, more than one young lady was sitting down in want of a partner.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

I have scarce had the pleasure of seeing you, Miss Woodhouse, she shortly afterwards began, since the party to Box Hill.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

She says there was hardly any veal to be got at market this morning, it is so uncommonly scarce.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)