rarely/seldom ever
idiom
: almost never : rarely
We seldom ever dine out these days.
She rarely ever drinks wine.
Note: Some people regard rarely ever and seldom ever as incorrect, but these phrases are common in speech and in informal writing.
Examples of rarely/seldom ever in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In all his years of inviting his favorite bands to perform in his space, Paul says he’s rarely ever been turned down.
—
Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 22 May 2025
Business expansion is rarely ever a simple process.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
And while screenwriting has always been a competitive field, industry veterans attested that the conditions have rarely ever been harsher for young writers.
—Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2025
Teams in need — Just about every team drafts pass rushers early because teams rarely ever have enough.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rarely/seldom ever
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 22 May 2025
Business expansion is rarely ever a simple process.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
And while screenwriting has always been a competitive field, industry veterans attested that the conditions have rarely ever been harsher for young writers.
—Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2025
Teams in need — Just about every team drafts pass rushers early because teams rarely ever have enough.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rarely/seldom ever
Cite this Entry
“Rarely/seldom ever.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rarely%2Fseldom%20ever. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share