Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
You use ~ to modify a statement when you want to emphasize that it is only a small amount or detail which makes it true, and that therefore it is best to consider the opposite statement as being true.
I ~ know you...
Their two faces were ~ more than eighteen inches apart.
= scarcely, barely
ADV: ADV before v, ADV group, oft ADV amount emphasis
2.
You use ~ in expressions such as ~ ever, ~ any, and ~ anyone to mean almost never, almost none, or almost no-one.
We ate chips every night, but ~ ever had fish...
Most of the others were so young they had ~ any experience...
ADV: ADV ever/any
3.
You use ~ before a negative statement in order to emphasize that something is usually true or usually happens.
Hardly a day goes by without a visit from someone.
= scarcely
ADV: ADV n emphasis
4.
When you say you can ~ do something, you are emphasizing that it is very difficult for you to do it.
My garden was covered with so many butterflies that I could ~ see the flowers.
ADV: can/could ADV inf emphasis
5.
If you say ~ had one thing happened when something else happened, you mean that the first event was followed immediately by the second.
He had ~ collected the papers on his desk when the door burst open...
= no sooner
ADV: ADV before v
6.
You use ~ to mean ‘not’ when you want to suggest that you are expecting your listener or reader to agree with your comment.
We have not seen the letter, so we can ~ comment on it...
ADV: ADV before v, ADV group
7.
You use ‘~’ to mean ‘no’, especially when you want to express surprise or annoyance at a statement that you disagree with. (SPOKEN)
‘They all thought you were marvellous!’—‘Well, ~.’...
CONVENTION