What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
rarely
Example
I rarely eat fast food because it's not healthy. [rarely: adverb]
Example
It's rare to see snow in this part of the country. [rare: adjective]
seldom
Example
I seldom go to the movies because it's expensive. [seldom: adverb]
Example
It's seldom that I have free time to relax. [seldom: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Rarely is more commonly used than seldom in everyday language. Rarely is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while seldom is less common and considered more formal.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between rarely and seldom?
Seldom is considered more formal than rarely. It is often used in written or academic contexts, while rarely is more commonly used in everyday conversation.
