little

1 of 2

adjective

lit·​tle ˈli-tᵊl 

littler ˈli-tᵊl-ər 

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

f

: narrow, mean

the pettiness of little minds

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

littleness

ˈli-tᵊl-nəs 

noun

littleness

2 of 2

noun

lit·​tle·​ness

plural -es

1

: the quality or state of being little

the littleness of the world in the vast emptiness of space

2

: an act marked by littleness

especially : a mean or petty act

a life of envy, filled with littlenesses

Synonyms of little

Adjective

• short
• small
• tiny

Choose the Right Synonym for little

small, little, diminutive, minute, tiny, miniature mean noticeably below average in size.

small and little are often interchangeable, but small applies more to relative size determined by capacity, value, number.

a relatively small backyard

little is more absolute in implication often carrying the idea of petiteness, pettiness, insignificance, or immaturity.

your pathetic little smile

diminutive implies abnormal smallness.

diminutive bonsai plants

minute implies extreme smallness.

a minute amount of caffeine in the soda

tiny is an informal equivalent to minute.

tiny cracks formed in the painting

miniature applies to an exactly proportioned reproduction on a very small scale.

a dollhouse with miniature furnishings

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Well-meaning but ultimately familiar in both message and delivery, the film speaks much of the bolder future ahead, but the filmmaking does little to disrupt the status quo. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 3 June 2026

How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

While there's little evidence of serious side effects from colostrum, people who are lactose intolerant or have a milk allergy should avoid it. —Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 2 June 2026

Still, there is very little evidence of comprehensive macro stress in the capital markets. —Michael Santoli, CNBC, 2 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English littel, from Old English lȳtel; akin to Old High German luzzil little

Noun

Middle English litelnesse, from Old English lȳtelnes, from lȳtel little + -nes -ness

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing little

• a big fish in a little pond
• a little
• a little bit
• a little goes a long way
• a little something
• as little as
• bear little relationship to/with
• dirty little secret
• every little bit helps
• every little thing
• have little to recommend it
• in little
• leave little to the imagination
• leave someone (with) no/little choice
• let someone in on a (little) secret
• little better than
• little bitty
• little bluestem
• little brother/sister
• little brown bat
• little by little
• little finger
• little guy
• little if any
• little leaf
• little magazine
• little man
• little more than
• little one
• little people
• little person
• little slam
• little theater
• little toe
• little tuna
• little tunny
• little woman
• little wonder
• live a little
• makes little/no sense
• meet with little success
• more than a little
• no little
• of little avail
• place/put little credence in
• precious little
• put/have little faith in
• the little guy
• the little man
• the little/small matter
• the little woman
• to little/no effect
• too little, too late
• very little love lost
• what little
• wired (a little) too tight/tightly
• wrap (someone) around one's (little) finger

Rhymes for little

• acquittal
• belittle
• committal
• hospital
• popliteal
• submittal
• transmittal
• brittle
• kittel
• kittle
• spital
• spittle

Kids Definition

little

1 of 3 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 

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

littleness

ˈlit-ᵊl-nəs 

noun

little

2 of 3 adverb

less ˈles  ; least ˈlēst 

1

: in a very small quantity or degree : slightly

had little more than we needed

a little known fact

2

: not very often

travels little

little

3 of 3 noun

1

: 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 

: 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