smaller; smallest
1
: little in size
They live in a small house.
a small glass of soda
She moved to a smaller town.
The toy is small enough to fit in my pocket.
He has small hands.
This room is a little smaller than that one.
2
: few in number or little in amount
a small crowd/group/company/party/school
a small supply/number
The movie was a small success.
There is a small [=slight] chance that they can still win.
3
: not very important : minor
a small matter
There are still a few small details we have to deal with.
It's only a small mistake.
The change had only a small impact on the community.
4
: very young
I loved the playground when I was small.
a small boy
They have two small children.
5
: involving or including few people, things, etc.
She works for a small company.
small businesses/dealers/investors
a small advertising campaign
a small fund-raiser
6
: lowercase
The first letter is a capital, but the rest are small.
7
: very soft and quiet
a small voice
8
: foolish or ashamed
He's just trying to make you feel small.
He felt very small to be caught cheating.
plural smalls
: something that is sold in a small size : something that is smaller than other things of the same kind
These shirts are all smalls.
"What size ice-cream cones do you want?" "We'll take three larges and a small."
Cite this Entry
“Small.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/small. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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