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

Recent Examples on the Web The doll’s first iteration came with itty-bitty red swim trunks, a towel and cork sandals. María Luisa Paúl, Washington Post, 13 Nov. 2023 The 14 comes with a flat display and narrow bezels measuring 1.61mm on three sides — there’s an itty-bitty chin with a 1.71mm bezel along the bottom. Allison Johnson, The Verge, 26 Oct. 2023 Bieber first chopped her hair in early 2023 and has been having a lot of fun experimenting with the short style, including itty-bitty buns and supertendril updos. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 23 Oct. 2023 These itty-bitty black holes may also have tilted disks and similarly chaotic dynamics, Kaaz says. Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 28 Sep. 2023 The keys do have just an itty-bitty bit of wobble to them, but not enough to be a concern. Wes Davis, The Verge, 3 Sep. 2023 The excursion has also meant a constant turnout of some of the multi-hyphenate’s best summer looks yet, from sophisticated sundresses to itty-bitty string bikinis. Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 14 Aug. 2023 Though, her itty-bitty rectangular sunglasses and patent criss-cross sandals also gave the ensemble a luxurious feel. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 13 Aug. 2023 The itty-bitty swimsuit consisted of a stringy halter-style top and cheeky boy shorts. Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 12 July 2023 See More

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 28 Nov. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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