used especially after ‘can’ or ‘could’ and before the main verb, to emphasize that it is difficult to do something

I can hardly keep my eyes open .

I could hardly believe it when I read the letter.

used to suggest that something is unlikely or unreasonable or that somebody is silly for saying or doing something

He is hardly likely to admit he was wrong.

It's hardly surprising she was fired; she never did any work.

It's hardly the time to discuss it now.

You can hardly expect her to do it for free.

‘Couldn't you have just said no?’ ‘Well, hardly , she's my wife's sister.’

used to say that something has just begun, happened, etc.

We can't stop for coffee now, we've hardly started.

We had hardly sat down to supper when the phone rang.

(formal)Hardly had she spoken before she regretted it bitterly.

LEARNit Dictionary