scarce

Preposition: in

• region: Fresh water, once a seemingly abundant resource, is now becoming scarce in many regions of the world.
• part: As public open space is scarce in many parts of my ward this is an important issue.
• area: Distribution: Widespread, tho scarce in lowland areas, probably under recorded particularly in Angus.

Modifies a noun

• migrant: The only other scarce migrant seen was a Hen Harrier that flew north over Weston in the afternoon.
• commodity: Open space is a scarce commodity within the urban areas of the District.
• resource: Page 24 Housing: 3.15 Land is a scarce resource for the Isle of Wight.
• forbear: And even a recalcitrant press could scarce forbear to cheer.
• damselfly: Dragonflies Can you find a new colony of the scarce blue-tailed damselfly in its Gwent Valleys heartland?
• specie: A good selection of winter visitors were recorded prior to a steady passage of scarcer migrant species at the end of the review period.

Modifying Another Word

• nationally: My 1st record for the species, which is nationally scarce.
• surprisingly: Seabirds were surprisingly scarce, a few Manx Shearwater near Penzance being the highlight.
• comparatively: These must have been expensive to make because they did not stay in production long and are comparatively scarce now.
• relatively: Since food is rationed and meat is relatively scarce, much of the diet is healthy fruit and vegetables.
• increasingly: As water becomes increasingly scarce, so securing its supply will become increasingly important.
• quite: Details of whole life investments tend to be quite scarce.

Used with adjective complement

• become: In a world where resources are becoming scarce, these insights have immense value.
• remain: Nonetheless, examples of Gray's work remain scarce.
• seem: Perhaps because of the heat birds seemed rather scarce as we made our way on around toward the far end of Willow Lake.
• get: I like comedies and dramas on the telly - dramas seem to be getting much more scarce.
• have: Twelve o'clock had scarce rung out over London, ere the knocker sounded very gently on the door.