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 From an itty-bitty Icelandic outpost backed by jaw-dropping landscapes to an ancient seaside settlement overlooking the Black Sea, here are 17 small towns in Europe to add to your travel list. Anne Olivia Bauso, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2024 After soaring above the Hollywood sign and downtown LA, the pilot lands the whirlybird on an itty-bitty helipad on top of a luxury yacht in the ocean. EW.com, 26 Oct. 2023 In attempting to minimize the hair leading up to and around the area in question, that itty-bitty button got erased entirely. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 5 Jan. 2024 The itty-bitty bow is one of many such tattoos Bieber has acquired over the years. Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 21 Dec. 2023 Samples Galore Minaj may have broken the itty-bitty piggy bank clearing some of the samples on Pink Friday 2. Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 8 Dec. 2023 The fish picks up flavor from a thin, green coat of capers, mint, basil and thyme, and the chard is elevated with garlic, butter and itty-bitty croutons. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 1 Dec. 2023 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

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 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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