small

The word “small” means limited in size, amount, or importance; not large. In plain terms, not big — limited in size, scale, or significance.

“Small” is pronounced smawl (/smɔl/ in IPA).

Here is “small” used in a sentence: “They live in a small apartment near the city center.”

Words with a similar meaning to “small” include compact, fun size, fun-sized, ickle, insignificant and lit'l.

The opposite of “small” — its antonyms — is large.

Depending on how it is used, “small” can be an adjective and a noun.

The word “small” comes from Old English. From Old English "smæl," meaning narrow or slender, tracing back to a very old Proto-Indo-European root simply meaning "little.".

“Small” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

The most common opposites of 'small' are 'big' and 'large'. Depending on the context, you might also use 'huge', 'enormous', or 'vast' for something especially large. When 'small' refers to importance rather than size, its opposite could be 'major', 'significant', or 'great' instead.

'Small' and 'little' often mean the same thing, but they carry different tones. 'Small' is neutral and factual, simply describing limited size. 'Little' frequently adds feeling — affection, charm, or sometimes dismissiveness, as in 'a little cottage' or 'a little problem'. 'Small' tends to sound more measured and objective.

Both describe limited size, but 'tiny' is far more extreme. Something small is simply below average size, while something tiny is remarkably or unusually little — an ant is tiny, whereas a compact car is merely small. 'Tiny' emphasises just how little something is.

You might say, 'They live in a small flat,' describing size, or 'It was only a small mistake,' describing importance. 'Small' works for physical dimensions, quantities, and significance alike, which is why it is one of the most widely used adjectives in English.