littler
ˈli-tᵊl-ər 
or lesser
ˈle-sər
; littlest
ˈli-tᵊl-əst
ˈlit-lər
or less
ˈles
or lesser
ˈle-sər
; littlest
ˈli-tᵊl-əst
ˈlit-ləst
or least
ˈlēst
1
: not big: such as
a
: small in size or extent : tiny
has little feet
b
: young
was too little to remember
c
of a plant or animal
: small in comparison with related forms
—used in vernacular names
d
: having few members or inhabitants
a little group
little towns
e
: small in condition, distinction, or scope
big business trampling on the little fellow
g
: pleasingly small
a cute little thing
h
—used as an intensive
why, you little devil!
2
: not much: such as
a
: existing only in a small amount or to a slight degree
has little money
b
: short in duration : brief
There is little time left.
c
: existing to an appreciable though not extensive degree or amount
—used with a
had a little money in the bank
3
: small in importance or interest : trivial
a few little problems to be dealt with
1
a
: in only a small quantity or degree : slightly
facts that were little known at the time
b
: not at all
cared little for their neighbors
2
: not much : almost nothing
Little has changed.
There was little to spare.
They ate little that morning.
The child recalled/understood little of what happened.
There is little we can do to help.
His argument did little to change their minds.
They told us precious little about the situation.
plural littles
1
: a small amount or quantity
She felt better after she'd eaten a little.
There's still some money left, but only a very little.
They didn't understand much but they did understand a little.
They understood more than a little [=much] of what was going on.
The family worked hard to earn what little they could.
With quality perfumes a little goes a long way.—
Gerry Cupido
Gerry Cupido2
: a short time or distance
We sat and rested for a little.
It's on the right, just a little past the school.
3
: a young child : little one
How you introduce your littles to the trail helps determine what they think of hiking as they grow.—Backpacker
Backpacker… Beyoncé and JAY-Z don't post many photos of their littlest littles.—Azure Hall
Azure HallAs a mom determined to nurse each of her littles, I've tucked myself away in airplane bathrooms dozens of times to pump ounces of milk.—Kourtney Gibson
Kourtney Gibsonsee also a little
Synonyms
Adjective
Adverb
Noun
Examples of little in a Sentence
Adjective
I have very little money, so I can't lend you any.
I have less money than I did before.
I got very little sleep last night.
There's little hope of a rescue now.
You have little choice but to pay attention.
The new version bears little resemblance to the original.
These programs have very little chance of succeeding.
These trinkets have little or no value.
We're having a little party this weekend.
a little group of people
Adverb
She works very little and sleeps even less.
Please speak as little as possible.
We had little more than we needed.
His art is little known in this country.
Noun
there's just a little of the pie left
See More
Recent Examples on the WebJosh Feldman, NBC News, 26 Nov. 2023
In the days after the terror attack, he was first told that his little girl was dead.
—Kerry J. Byrne Fox News, Fox News, 26 Nov. 2023
Jenner can be seen holding the little girl, with Blanco hugging them both from behind.
—Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 25 Nov. 2023
Meetings in Milan, New Delhi, and Buenos Aires yielded little of note.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2023
But the last counteroffensive in the south so far brought little gains in more than five months, serving as the biggest proof the war has changed since Ukraine's early success.
—Oleksiy Pshemyskiy, ABC News, 25 Nov. 2023
Life is all about appreciating the little things, like the perfect latte foam.
—Micaela Arnett, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2023
The case illustrates a citywide problem, Mendelson said: Racking up unpaid fines, which can be pending for years before the city tries to collect them, does little to incentivize landlords to spend money on fixing the underlying violations.
—Danny Nguyen, Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2023
The December 2025 Schatz is trading at a yield of 3.08%, little changed from the 3.12% average yield at the previous auction on Oct. 17.
—WSJ, 14 Nov. 2023
Chelsey Dulaney, WSJ, 24 Nov. 2023
There’s little worse in this community of the louche and larky privileged than being a try-hard.
—Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023
As Chinese cities modernized into expanses of high-rises and gridded streets, the urban villages grew into chaotic, densely populated neighborhoods little touched by the gentrification surrounding them.
—Keith Bradsher, New York Times, 17 Nov. 2023
The actor also looked very little like the character.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023
Chart: By Mathias Hammer for TIME Source: Nuclear Threat Initiative and Arms Control Association
Read more: Russia’s Latest Threat: New Nuclear Tests
Outside of the nuclear sphere, the treaties managing conventional arms have fared little better.
—Mathias Hammer, TIME, 13 Nov. 2023
Management broke out the results of ESPN separately for the first time this quarter, saying revenue at its sports networks was little changed at $3.91 billion, while earnings grew 14% to $981 million.
—Thomas Buckley, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2023
The Detroit area has the largest Arabic-speaking population in the U.S.
Two days after the slaying, Detroit Police Chief James E. White held a press conference and told reporters very little.
—Rebecca Rosenberg, Fox News, 11 Nov. 2023
The intention to illuminate the political machinations of the Capitol and the importance of the games in maintaining the divide between the ruling class and the powerless plebs yields little beyond turgid gloom.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Nov. 2023
San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2023
Chau, who was raised in Washington state, had a longtime fascination with adventure stories, especially those set in remote areas little explored by people from the industrialized world.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2023
Here's to all the grandparents in the world raising our littles!
—Tommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 4 Oct. 2023
For littles that don’t love a straightjacket approach to swaddling, this suit allows enough arm movement to bring their hands together inside the swaddle.
—Samson McDougall, Parents, 8 Sep. 2023
In person, Gurba does little to dispel her reputation for fearlessness.
—Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2023
Have your dogs on a leash so as to keep them with you at all times, especially the littles.
2.
—Adam Sennott, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Sep. 2023
The mayor understands that any future upgrades do little to console those residents with flooded basements.
—John Benson, cleveland, 26 July 2023
For parents of littles, there’s a spacious room to one side with pre-school toys and activities.
—Victoria Barber, Anchorage Daily News, 10 July 2023
See More
Adjective
In an interview earlier this month, Abigail’s great-aunt said the little girl’s parents were killed in their home at the Kfar Aza kibbutz.
—Josh Feldman, NBC News, 26 Nov. 2023
In the days after the terror attack, he was first told that his little girl was dead.
—Kerry J. Byrne Fox News, Fox News, 26 Nov. 2023
Jenner can be seen holding the little girl, with Blanco hugging them both from behind.
—Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 25 Nov. 2023
Meetings in Milan, New Delhi, and Buenos Aires yielded little of note.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2023
But the last counteroffensive in the south so far brought little gains in more than five months, serving as the biggest proof the war has changed since Ukraine's early success.
—Oleksiy Pshemyskiy, ABC News, 25 Nov. 2023
Life is all about appreciating the little things, like the perfect latte foam.
—Micaela Arnett, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2023
The case illustrates a citywide problem, Mendelson said: Racking up unpaid fines, which can be pending for years before the city tries to collect them, does little to incentivize landlords to spend money on fixing the underlying violations.
—Danny Nguyen, Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2023
The December 2025 Schatz is trading at a yield of 3.08%, little changed from the 3.12% average yield at the previous auction on Oct. 17.
—WSJ, 14 Nov. 2023
Adverb
In recent trading: Stock futures were little changed.
—Chelsey Dulaney, WSJ, 24 Nov. 2023
There’s little worse in this community of the louche and larky privileged than being a try-hard.
—Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023
As Chinese cities modernized into expanses of high-rises and gridded streets, the urban villages grew into chaotic, densely populated neighborhoods little touched by the gentrification surrounding them.
—Keith Bradsher, New York Times, 17 Nov. 2023
The actor also looked very little like the character.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023
Chart: By Mathias Hammer for TIME Source: Nuclear Threat Initiative and Arms Control Association
Read more: Russia’s Latest Threat: New Nuclear Tests
Outside of the nuclear sphere, the treaties managing conventional arms have fared little better.
—Mathias Hammer, TIME, 13 Nov. 2023
Management broke out the results of ESPN separately for the first time this quarter, saying revenue at its sports networks was little changed at $3.91 billion, while earnings grew 14% to $981 million.
—Thomas Buckley, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2023
The Detroit area has the largest Arabic-speaking population in the U.S.
Two days after the slaying, Detroit Police Chief James E. White held a press conference and told reporters very little.
—Rebecca Rosenberg, Fox News, 11 Nov. 2023
The intention to illuminate the political machinations of the Capitol and the importance of the games in maintaining the divide between the ruling class and the powerless plebs yields little beyond turgid gloom.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Nov. 2023
Noun
The event gives littles the opportunity to wear costumes and trick-or-treat from participating businesses.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2023
Chau, who was raised in Washington state, had a longtime fascination with adventure stories, especially those set in remote areas little explored by people from the industrialized world.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2023
Here's to all the grandparents in the world raising our littles!
—Tommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 4 Oct. 2023
For littles that don’t love a straightjacket approach to swaddling, this suit allows enough arm movement to bring their hands together inside the swaddle.
—Samson McDougall, Parents, 8 Sep. 2023
In person, Gurba does little to dispel her reputation for fearlessness.
—Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2023
Have your dogs on a leash so as to keep them with you at all times, especially the littles.
2.
—Adam Sennott, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Sep. 2023
The mayor understands that any future upgrades do little to console those residents with flooded basements.
—John Benson, cleveland, 26 July 2023
For parents of littles, there’s a spacious room to one side with pre-school toys and activities.
—Victoria Barber, Anchorage Daily News, 10 July 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'little.' 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
Adjective, Adverb, and Noun
Middle English littel, from Old English lȳtel; akin to Old High German luzzil little
First Known Use
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adverb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Pronoun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of little was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing little
Articles Related to little
Dictionary Entries Near little
Cite this Entry
“Little.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/little. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
little
1 of 3 adjective
lit·tle
ˈlit-ᵊl
littler
ˈlit-ᵊl-ər
or lesser
ˈles-ər
; littlest
ˈlit-ᵊl-əst
ˈlit-lər
or less
ˈles
or lesser
ˈles-ər
; littlest
ˈlit-ᵊl-əst
ˈlit-ləst
or least
ˈlēst
1
a
: small in size
b
: young entry 1 sense 1a
was too little to remember
c
: small in comparison with related forms
little blue heron
d
: narrow entry 1 sense 3, mean
people with little minds
2
a
: small in quantity
there was little food to feed them
b
: short in duration
little time left
3
: small in importance
life's little problems
4
: being younger
my little brother
little
3 of 3 noun1
: a small amount or quantity
2
: a short time or distance
Medical Definition
little
adjective
lit·tle
ˈlit-ᵊl
littler
ˈlit-ᵊl-ər, ˈlit-lər
or less
ˈles
or lesser
ˈles-ər
; littlest
ˈlit-ᵊl-əst, ˈlit-ləst
or least
ˈlēst
or less
ˈles
or lesser
ˈles-ər
; littlest
ˈlit-ᵊl-əst, ˈlit-ləst
or least
ˈlēst
: not big: as
a
: small in size or extent
has little feet
b
of a plant or animal
: small in comparison with related forms
—used in vernacular names
More from Merriam-Webster on little
Nglish: Translation of little for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of little for Arabic Speakers
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