Definition of 'little'

Word Frequency

little determiner, quantifier, and adverb uses

(lɪtəl )

1. determiner

You use little to indicate that there is only a very small amount of something. You can use 'so,' 'too,' and 'very' in front of little.

I had little money and little free time.

I find that I need very little sleep these days.

2. adverb [ADV with v]

Little means not very often or to only a small extent.

On their way back to Marseille they spoke very little.

Synonyms: hardly, barely, not quite, not much More Synonyms of little

3. determiner

A little of something is a small amount of it, but not very much. You can also say a very little.

Mrs. Caan needs a little help getting her groceries home.

A little food would do us all some good.

4. adverb [ADV after v]

If you do something a little, you do it for a short time.

He walked a little by himself in the garden.

Synonyms: to a small extent, slightly, to some extent, to a certain extent More Synonyms of little

5. adverb

A little or a little bit means to a small extent or degree.

He complained a little of a nagging pain between his shoulder blades.

He was a little bit afraid of his father's reaction.

More Synonyms of little

English Easy Learning GrammarDeterminersDeterminers are words that make the reference of nouns more specific. If I say ‘this car’ it is clear that I mean a particular car which is near me. If ... Read more

English Easy Learning GrammarNoun phrases with several determinersMost noun phrases contain only one determiner or none at all, but if there are more, they follow a definite order. Determiners can be divided into four ... Read more

English Easy Learning GrammarQuantifiersQuantifiers are used to indicate the amount or quantity of something referred to by a noun. They are different from numbers because they indicate an approximate ... Read more

Word Frequency

little adjective uses

(lɪtəl )

Word forms: littler, littlestlanguage note: The comparative littler and the superlative littlest are sometimes used in spoken English for meanings [sense 1], , [sense 3], and , [sense 4], but otherwise the comparative and superlative forms of the adjective little are not used.

1. adjective

Little things are small in size. Little is slightly more informal than small.

We sat around a little table, eating and drinking wine.

Synonyms: small, minute, short, tiny More Synonyms of little

2. adjective [ADJ n]

You use little to indicate that someone or something is small, in a pleasant and attractive way.

She's got the nicest little house not far from the library.

...a little old lady.

3. adjective [ADJ n]

Your little sister or brother is younger than you are.

Whenever Daniel's little sister was asked to do something she always had a naughty reply.

4. adjective [ADJ n]

A little distance, period of time, or event is short in length.

Just go down the road a little way, turn left, and cross the bridge.

Why don't we just wait a little while and see what happens.

5. adjective [ADJ n]

A little sound or gesture is quick.

I had a little laugh to myself.

Synonyms: short, brief, fleeting, short-lived More Synonyms of little

6. adjective [ADJ n]

You use little to indicate that something is not serious or important.

...irritating little habits.

Synonyms: unimportant, minor, petty, trivial More Synonyms of little

Video: pronunciation of
little

little in American English

(ˈlɪtəl )

adjectiveWord forms: ˈlittler or less or ˈlesser, ˈlittlest or least

small in size; not big, large, or great

small in amount, number, or degree; not much

short in duration or distance; brief; not long

small in importance or power

the rights of the little man

small in force, intensity, etc.; weak

trivial; trifling

lacking in breadth of vision; narrow-minded; illiberal

a little mind

young

said of children or animals

younger

her little brother

adverbWord forms: less or least

10.

in a small degree; to a slight extent; only slightly; not much

11.

not in the least

he little suspects the plot

noun

12.

small amount, degree, etc.

often used with a and having adverbial force

a little crazy

not much

little will be done about it

13.

a short time or distance

SIMILAR WORDS: small

Idioms:

Derived forms

littleness (ˈlittleness)

noun

Word origin

ME littel < OE lytel (akin to Ger dial. lützel) < base of lyt, small (< IE base *leud-, to stoop > Welsh lludded, fatigue), infl. by ON litill, small (akin to Goth leitils) < IE base *lei-, to decline, be lean > less

Word Frequency

little in British English

(ˈlɪtəl )

determiner

1. (often preceded by a)

a small quantity, extent, or duration of

the little hope there is left

very little milk

(as pronoun)

save a little for me

not much

little damage was done

3. make little of

4. not a little

5. quite a little

6. think little of

adjective

of small or less than average size

young

a little boy

our little ones

endearingly familiar; dear

my husband's little ways

10.

contemptible, mean, or disagreeable

your filthy little mind

11.

(of a region or district) resembling another country or town in miniature

little Venice

12. little game

13. no little

adverb

14. (usually preceded by a)

in a small amount; to a small extent or degree; not a lot

to laugh a little

15. (used preceding a verb)

not at all, or hardly

he little realized his fate

16.

not much or often

we go there very little now

17. little by little

See also less, lesser, least, littler, littlest

Word origin

Old English lӯtel; related to lӯr few, Old High German luzzil

Examples of 'little' in a sentence
little

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

Yet there is surprisingly little help for people like us.Things have just been a little harder this quarter.Yet there is little hard evidence to support these ideas. West hopes his partner has a little something.At present there is often very little that doctors can do to help them to recover.This way you are also doing a little stretch.The game allows you to take as little or as much responsibility as you want.But there's little from further back. Asked about his personal life, he gave little away.The older generation had little love for the extremists.