little
12 synonyms and 3 antonyms for little, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Small in size.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use little
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a little bit
little by little
a little while
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.
Full origin of little →Frequently asked questions
What does “little” mean?
The word “little” means small in size. In plain terms, small in size, amount, or importance.
How do you pronounce “little”?
“Little” is pronounced LIH-tl (/ˈlɪ.tl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “little” in a sentence?
Here is “little” used in a sentence: “They live in a little cottage by the lake.”
What is the opposite of “little”?
The opposite of “little” — its antonyms — are big, old and much.
What part of speech is “little”?
Depending on how it is used, “little” can be an adjective, a det, an adverb and a noun.
Where does the word “little” come from?
The word “little” comes from Old English. 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.
Is “little” a common word?
“Little” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “little” have?
“Little” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: small in size.
What is the difference between 'little' and 'small'?
Both mean not large, and they often overlap. 'Small' is the neutral word for size — 'a small box.' 'Little' carries the same idea but often adds warmth or emotion — 'a little cottage,' 'the poor little thing.' 'Small' states a plain fact; 'little' frequently hints at affection or charm.
What is the difference between 'little' and 'few'?
'Little' describes an amount of something uncountable — 'little water,' 'little time.' 'Few' describes a number of countable things — 'few coins,' 'few people.' Both suggest not much, but 'little' goes with mass nouns and 'few' with plural countable nouns. Mixing them up is a very common error.
What is the opposite of 'little'?
In the sense of size, the opposite is 'big' or 'large.' A little dog is the reverse of a big dog. When 'little' means a small amount, its opposite is 'much' or 'a lot.' The right antonym depends on whether you mean physical size or quantity.
