narrowly

narrowly — adverb

1. by a very small difference or amount, so that something unpleasant is only just

1.adverbB2
Definition

by a very small difference or amount, so that something unpleasant is only just avoided or something good is only just achieved.

Example

Talia skidded on the ice but narrowly avoided crashing into the parked van.

narrowly avoided + gerund/noun phrase

The Watanabe family narrowly escaped the mudslide that buried their neighbours' house.

Common collocations
  • narrowly avoided
  • narrowly escaped
  • narrowly missed
  • narrowly won
  • narrowly lost
  • narrowly beat
Synonyms
  • barely

    broader — 'barely' works for quantity and sufficiency; 'narrowly' is more specific to margins of success/danger.

  • just

    slightly more informal and shorter; 'just' can also mean 'only' which 'narrowly' cannot.

  • by a whisker

    informal, idiomatic. 'Narrowly' is neutral register.

Antonyms
  • easily

    opposite outcome — 'easily won' means by a large margin.

  • comfortably

    implies a safe, wide margin rather than a close one.

Grammar Patterns

narrowly + avoided/escaped/missed/won/lost + noun/gerund

Usage Note

Frequently paired with verbs of avoiding danger (avoid, escape, miss) or verbs of near-success (win, lose, beat, fail).

Common Mistakes

The bus arrived nearly on time.
The bus arrived narrowly on time.
'narrowly' means 'barely' or 'by a slim margin', not 'approximately' (that's 'nearly').

2. considering only one small part of a situation and ignoring everything else that

2.adverbB2
Definition

considering only one small part of a situation and ignoring everything else that is relevant.

Example

The report was criticised for interpreting the sales data too narrowly.

interpret + too + narrowly

Sade felt that her job description was defined too narrowly, leaving no room for creativity.

Common collocations
  • interpreted narrowly
  • defined narrowly
  • viewed narrowly
  • focused too narrowly
  • understood narrowly
Synonyms
  • restrictively

    more formal; emphasises constraints rather than scope.

  • strictly

    implies following rules exactly; 'narrowly' implies ignoring wider context.

  • literally

    focuses on word-for-word reading rather than limited perspective; narrower in usage.

Antonyms
  • broadly

    opposite — considering the full picture or many possibilities.

  • widely

    taking a general, inclusive view rather than a restricted one.

Grammar Patterns

interpreted/defined/viewed/thought of + too/very + narrowly

Usage Note

Typically modifies verbs of thinking or defining (interpret, define, view, understand, read, focus). Often paired with 'too' to indicate excessive limitation.

Common Mistakes

She looked narrowly at the painting' (meaning she examined it closely — that is sense 3).
She interpreted the rules narrowly.
use the verb 'interpret' or 'define' to keep the 'limited way' meaning clear.

3. in a very attentive and questioning way, usually because you suspect something o

3.adverbC1
Definition

in a very attentive and questioning way, usually because you suspect something or are not entirely sure about someone or something.

Example

The security guard looked at Gabriel narrowly, then asked to see his ID card.

look at + somebody + narrowly

Mayumi's mother studied the school report narrowly, searching for any sign of trouble.

Common collocations
  • looked narrowly
  • watched narrowly
  • studied narrowly
  • eyed narrowly
  • examined narrowly
Synonyms
  • closely

    most direct synonym in this sense — 'watch closely' means the same as 'watch narrowly' but without the suspicion nuance.

  • suspiciously

    adds a stronger distrust element that 'narrowly' only implies.

  • intently

    focuses on concentration rather than doubt.

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

looked/watched/studied + somebody/something + narrowly

Usage Note

Modifies verbs of looking or examining (look, watch, study, eye, examine). The narrowed eyes are often literal — as people squint to see more carefully or to express suspicion.

Common Mistakes

The journalist wrote narrowly about the scandal' (confused with sense 2).
The journalist watched the politician narrowly for any sign of a lie.
sense 3 is about careful/suspicious observing, not limited interpretation.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four describe a small margin, but they differ in scope. 'Barely' is the closest match to 'narrowly' — both emphasise that something happened 'by the skin of one's teeth', but 'barely' also works for sufficiency ('barely enough food') whereas 'narrowly' does not. 'Just' is more neutral and common in conversation ('I just made it'), but lacks the edge-of-disaster feel. 'Hardly' and 'scarcely' lean toward 'almost not at all' ('I hardly know him') and are less natural for near-accidents. For a near-crash, use 'narrowly avoided'; for not having enough money, use 'barely had enough'; for arriving at the last moment, 'just made it' is most natural.

barely ↗just ↗hardly ↗scarcely

Common collocations

Adverbs

Phrases

  • by a narrow margin

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Formed from the adjective 'narrow' (from Old English 'nearu', meaning confined, limited, restricted) plus the adverbial suffix '-ly'. The sense of 'barely, by a small margin' emerged in the 1600s, likely from the metaphor of travelling along a narrow path — you pass through, but with very little space to spare.