little

adjective

UK /ˈlɪt(ə)l/

Word Forms

adjective	little
comparative	littler
superlative	littlest

1
usually before nounsmall in size or number
Use the little pan for making the sauce.
There’s a little group of us who meet once a week.
a little bit of something:
Little bits of hay still clung to her skirt.
little tiny/tiny little:
There’s a little tiny crack in it.
a tiny little garden
Synonyms and related words
Small in size
small
little
tiny
1. 1a
  used in a positive way for referring to small people or things that you like
  a little old lady
  nice/pretty/cute/sweet/lovely little:
  a pretty little cottage in the country
  poor little:
  Poor little thing, you must be starving!
  Synonyms and related words
  Small in size
  small
  little
  tiny
2. 1b
  used in a negative way for referring to small people or things that you do not like
  You little brat!
  one of those narrow-minded little racists
  nasty/cheeky/silly/stupid little:
  She wrote me a nasty little letter.
  Synonyms and related words
  Small in size
  small
  little
  tiny
2
young, and often small. This word is used mainly by children or when speaking to children
a little boy/girl/child
When I was little, we didn’t have computers at school.
Synonyms and related words
Words used by or to young children
bang
be a love and . . .
big
3
only before nounlasting a short time
a little while:
I’ll be with you in a little while.
Synonyms and related words
Able to be changed and lasting only a short time
variable
brief
short-term
1. 3a
  continuing for a short distance
  Molly carried her a little way towards the house.
  Synonyms and related words
  Relating to or describing distance
  long
  little
  away
4
not important
He gets upset at the least little thing.
There are just some little details to sort out.
Synonyms and related words
Unimportant
unimportant
minor
irrelevant
1. 4a
  used in a humorous way for referring to something that you really think is important
  We may have a little problem explaining that to our customers.
  Synonyms and related words
  Humorous expressions and words used in a humorous way
  surprise, surprise
  just what I (have always) wanted
  were you born in a barn?
5
controlled and involving a small amount of movement, effort, or emotion
a little smile/laugh
Jules said goodnight with a formal little bow.
Synonyms and related words
Limited and limiting
limited
restricted
restrictive

phrases

a little bird told me

someone’s little boy/girl

someone’s little brother/sister

a little something

quite the little...

the little woman

little

adjective

US /ˈlɪt(ə)l/

Word Forms

adjective	little
comparative	littler
superlative	littlest

1
usually before nounsmall in size or number
Use the little pan for making the sauce.
There’s a little group of us who meet once a week.
a little bit of something:
Little bits of hay still clung to her skirt.
little tiny/tiny little:
There’s a little tiny crack in it.
a tiny little garden
Synonyms and related words
Small in size
small
little
tiny
1. 1a
  used in a positive way for referring to small people or things that you like
  a little old lady
  nice/pretty/cute/sweet little:
  a pretty little house in the country
  poor little:
  Poor little thing, you must be starving.
  Synonyms and related words
  Small in size
  small
  little
  tiny
2. 1b
  used in a negative way for referring to small people or things that you do not like
  You little brat.
  one of those narrow-minded little racists
  nasty/snotty/silly/stupid little:
  She wrote me a nasty little letter.
  Synonyms and related words
  Small in size
  small
  little
  tiny
2
only before nouncontinuing for a short distance
Molly carried her a little way toward the house.
Synonyms and related words
Relating to or describing distance
long
little
away
1. 2a
  lasting a short time
  a little while:
  I’ll be with you in a little while.
  Synonyms and related words
  Able to be changed and lasting only a short time
  variable
  brief
  short-term
3
young, and often small. This word is used mainly by children or when speaking to children
a little boy/girl/child
When I was little, we didn’t have computers in school.
Synonyms and related words
Words used by or to young children
bang
be a love and . . .
big
4
controlled and involving a small amount of movement, effort, or emotion
a little smile/laugh
Jules said goodnight with a formal little bow.
Synonyms and related words
Limited and limiting
limited
limiting
restricted
5
not important
He gets upset at the least little thing.
There are just some little details to sort out.
Synonyms and related words
Unimportant
unimportant
minor
irrelevant
1. 5a
  used in a humorous way for referring to something that you really think is important
  We may have a little problem explaining that to our customers.
  Synonyms and related words
  Humorous expressions and words used in a humorous way
  surprise, surprise
  just what I (have always) wanted
  were you born/raised in a barn?

phrases

a little bird told me

a little something

the little woman

quite the little...

someone’s little boy/girl

someone’s little brother/sister

little

adverb, determiner, pronoun

UK /ˈlɪt(ə)l/

Word Forms

comparative	less
superlative	least

Little can be used in the following ways:

as a determiner (followed by a noun): There’s little time left.Little progress has been made.

as a pronoun: They have very little, but what they have, they share. (after ‘a’): Yes, I’d like some tea – but just a little. (followed by ‘of’): Little of the original building has survived.Can I take a little of this sugar? (after ‘the’): The little I know won’t be of much use to you.

as an adverb: I go there very little.I’m little affected by the cold. (after ‘a’): He talked a little about his childhood.

1
used for referring to an extremely small amount of something
There is little time to prepare for the exams.
Little has been revealed about his background.
She has done little today besides sleep.
too little:
There was too much rain and too little sun.
very little:
He’s an excellent manager, so there’s very little tension in the office.
so little:
I’ve got so much to do and so little time to do it in.
little or no:
She had trained herself to show little or no emotion, whatever happened.
little of:
Jordan has lost little of his Irish accent.
as little as possible:
He always tries to pay the workers as little as possible.
the little:
He didn’t earn much money, and he gambled away the little he had saved.
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe small amounts and quantities
little
few
slight
2
not very often, or only to a small degree
very little:
In her last years I saw her very little.
Our relationship has changed very little over the years.
as little as possible:
They spoke of him as little as possible.
little known (=not known by many people):
Kang was little known outside of China.
little more/better:
You accused me of being little better than a thief (=almost as bad as a thief).
Synonyms and related words
Rarely and not often
rarely
little
seldom
Synonyms and related words
Slightly, to some degree and not completely
slightly
fairly
partly

phrases

a little

as little as

do little to help/solve etc

(just) that little bit easier/more comfortable etc

little by little

little does someone know/realize

more than a little/not a little

little

adverb, determiner, pronoun

US /ˈlɪt(ə)l/

Word Forms

comparative	less
superlative	least

Little can be used in the following ways:

as a determiner (followed by a noun): There’s little time left.Little progress has been made.

as a pronoun: They have very little, but what they have, they share. (after “a”): Yes, I’d like some tea – but just a little. (followed by “of”): Little of the original building has survived.Can I take a little of this sugar? (after “the”): The little I know won’t be of much use to you.

as an adverb: I go there very little.I’m little affected by the cold. (after “a”): He talked a little about his childhood.

1
used for referring to an extremely small amount of something
There is little time to prepare for the exams.
She has done little today besides sleep.
Little has been revealed about his background.
little of:
Jordan has lost little of his Southern accent.
very little:
He’s an excellent manager, so there’s very little tension in the office.
too little:
There was too much rain and too little sun.
so little:
I’ve got so much to do and so little time to do it in.
little or no:
She had trained herself to show little or no emotion, no matter what happened.
as little as possible:
He always tries to pay the workers as little as possible.
the little:
He didn’t earn much money, and he gambled away the little he had saved.
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe small amounts and quantities
little
few
slight
2
not very often, or only to a small degree
very little:
In her last years I saw her very little.
Our relationship has changed very little over the years.
as little as possible:
They spoke of him as little as possible.
little known (=not known by many people):
Kang was little known outside of China.
little more/better:
You accused me of being little better than a thief (=almost as bad as a thief).
Synonyms and related words
Rarely and not often
rarely
little
seldom
Synonyms and related words
Slightly, to some degree and not completely
slightly
fairly
partly

phrases

a little

do little to help/solve etc.

(just) that little bit easier/more comfortable etc.

little by little

little does someone know/realize

more than a little/not a little

as little as

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