Barely heard.

Meaning: This means something was hard to hear, almost inaudible. It's like saying, Hardly perceived by the ear.

Choice of Words: Barely is an adverb that means almost not, just enough, or only just. Heard is the past participle of the verb 'hear', meaning to perceive sound by the ear. Here, "Barely heard" means something was difficult to hear or almost not heard at all.

Alternative Expressions

Barely audible

Meaning: This means you could hear something, but it was very quiet.

Choice of Words: Barely means only just or almost not. Audible means able to be heard. When you put them together, "Barely audible" means you could hear something, but it was very quiet.

Could hardly hear

Meaning: This means you had difficulty hearing something because it was very quiet or you were not paying much attention.

Choice of Words: Could is a modal verb that indicates ability or possibility. Hardly means almost not or with difficulty. Hear means to listen to something and understand it. When you put them together, "Could hardly hear" means you had difficulty hearing something.

Related Expressions