few and far between

phrase

Synonyms of few and far betweennext
: few in number and infrequently met : rare

Examples of few and far between in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But the ability to do more of those critical repairs is few and far between. Idaho Statesman, 18 Sep. 2026 As for National Queso Day deals, there are few and far between. Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Sep. 2026 Neither Jović nor Eala has a sturdy serve, as is common among players their age, so quick points were few and far between. Ava Wallace, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026 Cleveland leaned on tight, low-scoring defensive scraps to pull out occasional victories, but those moments were few and far between. David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for few and far between

Word History

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of few and far between was in 1668

Browse Nearby Words

few
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Few and far between.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/few%20and%20far%20between. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on few and far between

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster