plural in construction
: not many persons or things
few were present
few of his stories are true
1
: consisting of or amounting to only a small number
one of our few pleasures
2
: at least some but indeterminately small in number
—used with a
caught a few fish
fewness
noun
see also few and far between
plural in construction
1
: a small number of units or individuals
a few of them
2
: a special limited number
the discriminating few
Examples of few in a Sentence
Adjective
He caught fewer fish than the rest of us.
There are fewer children at the school this year.
Not many people came, but the few people who did enjoyed themselves.
Noun
a few of the songs on the album are good, but most are forgettable
Recent Examples on the Web
Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 2 Feb. 2026
In the first few weeks of 2026, three people were shot and killed by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents, prompting nationwide outrage and calls for the agency to be defunded and for ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to be abolished.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 2 Feb. 2026
Somehow that was even fewer than Newsom’s public calls for corrections; the governor’s Twitter account tweeted at the Post seeking corrections five times.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Feb. 2026
When navigation is intentional, students earn credits faster, miss fewer days, and experience less emotional exhaustion.
—Arkansas Online, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for few
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Adjective
The attack Sunday came a few hours after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a new round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia had been postponed.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 2 Feb. 2026
In the first few weeks of 2026, three people were shot and killed by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents, prompting nationwide outrage and calls for the agency to be defunded and for ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to be abolished.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 2 Feb. 2026
Somehow that was even fewer than Newsom’s public calls for corrections; the governor’s Twitter account tweeted at the Post seeking corrections five times.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Feb. 2026
When navigation is intentional, students earn credits faster, miss fewer days, and experience less emotional exhaustion.
—Arkansas Online, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for few
Cite this Entry
“Few.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/few. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
few
1 of 3 pronoun
: not many persons or things
—used in plural
few were present
few
2 of 3 adjective1
: amounting to only a small number
one of the few sports I play
2
: not many but some
caught a few fish
fewness
noun
few
3 of 3 noun1
: a small number of units or individuals
a few of them
2
: a special limited number
the select few
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