few
fyoo
Few (det) means a small number of; not many. Example: “Only a few people showed up to the meeting.”
det
1
A small number of; not many.
"Only a few people showed up to the meeting."
"She has few complaints about her new job."
"Very few shops stay open late in our village."
pron
1
A small number of people or things, used on its own.
"Many were invited, but few came."
"Of all the students who applied, only a few were chosen."
"The path is steep, and few have reached the top without a rest."
How to use few
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small, limited number of something.
Common mistake
"Few" (small number, slightly negative) is different from "a few" (a small number, neutral or positive) — "few people came" sounds disappointing, "a few people came" just states a fact.
Common pairings
a few
quite a few
very few
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Word forms
- Comparative
- fewer, less
- Superlative
- fewest, least
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Only a _____ people showed up to the meeting.
Etymology
From Old English fēaw ("few"), from a Germanic and ultimately Proto-Indo-European root meaning "small, few."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “few” mean?
The word “few” means a small number of; not many. In plain terms, a small, limited number of something.
How do you pronounce “few”?
“Few” is pronounced fyoo (/fjuː/ in IPA).
How do you use “few” in a sentence?
Here is “few” used in a sentence: “Only a few people showed up to the meeting.”
What is another word for “few”?
Words with a similar meaning to “few” include little.
What is the opposite of “few”?
The opposite of “few” — its antonyms — is many.
What part of speech is “few”?
Depending on how it is used, “few” can be a det and a pronoun.
Where does the word “few” come from?
The word “few” comes from Old English. From Old English fēaw ("few"), from a Germanic and ultimately Proto-Indo-European root meaning "small, few.".
Is “few” a common word?
“Few” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between 'few' and 'a few'?
Although they look almost identical, the meaning shifts. 'A few' is positive and means 'some' — 'I have a few friends here' sounds reassuring. 'Few' alone is negative and stresses scarcity — 'I have few friends here' sounds lonely. The tiny word 'a' changes the whole tone of the sentence.
What is the difference between 'few' and 'less'?
'Few' and its comparative 'fewer' are used with things you can count — fewer cars, fewer mistakes. 'Less' is used with things you cannot count individually — less traffic, less time. A quick test: if you could put a number in front of the noun, 'few' or 'fewer' is correct.
What is the opposite of 'few'?
The main opposite is 'many', which describes a large number of countable things. 'Numerous', 'plenty', and 'a lot of' work similarly. Where 'few' emphasises scarcity, these words emphasise abundance, so 'few problems' becomes 'many problems' when the number is large.
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