adj

little

LIH-tl

adj

Small in size.

"They live in a little cottage by the lake."

"There's a little spider in the corner of the room."

Young, especially referring to a child.

"My little sister just started kindergarten."

det

Not much; a small amount of something.

"We have little time left before the deadline."

adv

Not very much; to a small extent.

"He slept very little the night before the exam."

noun

A small amount.

"Could I have a little more coffee, please?"

How to Use Little

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSmall in size, amount, or importance.

Common mistake

"A little" (a small amount, usually positive: "I have a little money") is different from just "little" (almost none, often negative: "I have little money").

Common pairings

a little bit little by little a little while

Word Forms

littler comparative, lesser comparative, lesser comparative, less comparative, less comparative, Littles plural, littlest superlative, least superlative, least superlative, least superlative

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They live in a _____ cottage by the lake.

Etymology

From Old English lȳtel, from a Proto-Germanic root related to "to bow down" or "to bend low" — the same root that gives us the word lout.

Antonyms

big old much

Related Words

big new young some former overweight important old

Rhymes for little

whittle brittle spittle belittle Doolittle

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