little
LIH-tl
Little (adj) means Small in size. Example: “They live in a little cottage by the lake.”
adj
1
Small in size.
"They live in a little cottage by the lake."
"There's a little spider in the corner of the room."
"He put the little key into the lock and turned it."
2
Young, especially referring to a child.
"My little sister just started kindergarten."
"The little boy waved at the bus as it drove past."
"When I was little, I was afraid of the dark."
det
1
Not much; a small amount of something.
"We have little time left before the deadline."
"There is little point in waiting here if the shop is closed."
"Little rain fell last summer, so the garden looked very dry."
adv
1
Not very much; to a small extent.
"He slept very little the night before the exam."
"I know little about cars, so I asked a friend to help."
"She was little changed by the experience and carried on as before."
noun
1
A small amount.
"Could I have a little more coffee, please?"
"Add a little of the sauce to the pasta and stir."
"Even a little can make a difference when everyone helps."
How to use little
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Comparative
- littler, lesser, less
- Superlative
- littlest, least
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for little
See all rhymes for 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.
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing little in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
The researchers say the popular practice of fasting on some days of the week and eating normally on others "may make little to no difference to weight loss and quality of life".
From
BBC News · Feb 16, 2026
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