itty-bitty

adjective

it·​ty-bit·​ty ˈi-tē-ˈbi-tē How to pronounce itty-bitty (audio)
variants or itsy-bitsy
: extremely small : tiny

Examples of itty-bitty in a Sentence

maddening swarms of itty-bitty insects flew around our faces
Recent Examples on the Web Collagen peptides are itty-bitty forms of protein derived from animal collagen. Jenny Berg, Allure, 6 Oct. 2024 Except Trump wants to do away with itty-bitty things like FEMA and the Weather Service. Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2024 The charm of Pretorious’ tiny experiments quickly fades (even if the sequence depicting it is a stand-out, complete with an itty-bitty queen, archbishop, priest, devil, ballerina, and mermaid) — as his ambition pushes Frankenstein to once again challenge God. Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2024 Kitten heel sandals and an itty-bitty bag balance out the heaviness of the look, adding a hint of feminine charm. Christina Holevas, Vogue, 12 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for itty-bitty 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'itty-bitty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

probably from baby talk for little bit

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of itty-bitty was in 1938

Dictionary Entries Near itty-bitty

Cite this Entry

“Itty-bitty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/itty-bitty. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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