scarce UK /ˈskɛəs/US /ˈskɛɚs/adjective 2adverb 1forms 2 adjective2 •Uncommon, rare; difficult to find; insufficient to meet a demand.By the end of the 20th century elephants had become scarce even in Africa. •Scantily supplied (with); deficient (in); used with of.The project failed due to the scarce resources in the national market. adverb1 •(literary, no longer used) Scarcely, only just.And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door, / That I scarce was sure I heard you […] — 1845 formsscarcer · scarcest
