How to Use little in a Sentence

little

1 of 3 adjective
  • 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 trinkets have little or no value.
  • I have less money than I did before.
  • These programs have very little chance of succeeding.
  • I have very little money, so I can't lend you any.
  • We're having a little party this weekend.
  • And maybe the little gold man at the end of it all is just the icing on the cake.
    Jenelle Riley, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024
  • All dogs are good—some are just a little ruff around the edges.
    Kelly O'Sullivan, Country Living, 25 Aug. 2023
  • So to just get away from that a little once in a while is nice.
    Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 6 Sep. 2023
  • The little owl falls out of its nest and can't find their mommy.
    Esther Carlstone, Parents, 6 Oct. 2023
  • Yes, it can be used right away by adding a little more olive oil.
    Rita Nader Heikenfeld, The Enquirer, 21 July 2023
  • So far, there has been little sign of a new uprising in the West Bank.
    Susannah George, Washington Post, 13 Nov. 2023
  • There are no villages and little in the way of tools or comforts.
    Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2024
  • The quail of the little milpas, which is what the Mexicans call their farm fields, are a case in point.
    Jack O’Connor, Outdoor Life, 2 Nov. 2023
  • The couple has yet to reveal their little boy's name or date of birth.
    Ilana Kaplan, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
  • A couple of their little ad-libs found their way into the film.
    Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Nov. 2023
  • Because all the pictures are out there of little me in my Snow White gown.
    Angelique Jackson, Variety, 7 Dec. 2023
  • Prince Harry’s book is a yawp of grief for the dead which spares little mercy for the living.
    Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 14 Nov. 2023
  • In fact, the wrinkles were steamed out of all of the garments with little to no effort on our part.
    Sharon Brandwein, Southern Living, 6 Jan. 2024
  • The Forest Service notes that this area offers little shade, and that the best times to go are in the spring or late fall.
    Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2024
  • Thank you for bringing this new little life into the world.
    Andrea Wurzburger, Peoplemag, 17 Jan. 2024
  • This little quirk is only one of many customs the 90-year-old event holds dear.
    Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2024
  • 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
  • And there will be very little work to do for actual lawyers.
    Steven Levy, WIRED, 5 Jan. 2024
  • Terry, seeking a little time alone, opted to sleep in the van.
    Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 6 Sep. 2023
  • This was an effort to make their slowest day of the week a little busier, according to CNN.
    Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 6 Sep. 2023
  • Drop down to a little weight for bent-over flys, for example, or pile on the plates for more intense squats.
    Men's Health, 16 Jan. 2023
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little

2 of 3 adverb
  • She works very little and sleeps even less.
  • His art is little known in this country.
  • We had little more than we needed.
  • Please speak as little as possible.
  • The bonds were little changed following the Bank of Japan news.
    Eric Wallerstein, WSJ, 27 July 2023
  • And who isn’t looking for a little more fun in their lives these days?
    Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Mar. 2023
  • The cake was a little dry and dense but still delicious!
    Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 12 June 2023
  • In this and much else, Russia’s tactics have changed little since the Cold War.
    Randy Teague, National Review, 3 May 2023
  • But these sparse ranks have just gotten a little less sparse.
    Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 9 Aug. 2023
  • Those are the national chains, but what about the options a little closer to home?
    Jevensen, oregonlive, 31 May 2023
  • How to Do It: Stand with your feet a little wider than shoulder-width apart, knees bent, a med ball held in both hands.
    David Otey, Men's Health, 20 July 2023
  • Wines at $7 are also available for those who like their evenings a little more laid back.
    Brian May Maestro, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2023
  • Kids around the world have always drawn the sun a little differently.
    María Luisa Paúl, Washington Post, 11 May 2023
  • Some were the result of chance, a mere moment, while others were a little more lasting.
    John Kelly, Washington Post, 5 July 2023
  • Well, the expense is a little more manageable right now.
    Medea Giordano, WIRED, 7 Sep. 2023
  • The Row in favor of something a little more classic for her first time at the Academy Awards.
    Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 12 Mar. 2023
  • This simple design choice stands out to kids and makes the potty feel a little more fun, which is always a plus.
    Jessica Booth, Parents, 23 June 2023
  • Ruibal also notes that the plant is a little more disease tolerant than in the past, so this year’s crop should be hearty.
    Ryan Conner, Dallas News, 30 Mar. 2023
  • Cyrus opted to keep it a little more simple, wearing a black t-shirt, blue jeans, low Air Force 1s and a black cap.
    Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 9 June 2023
  • His grandfather had worked for an American boss in a job that has changed little over the decades.
    Peter S. Goodman Jes Aznar, New York Times, 30 Dec. 2023
  • These being writers, the placards and chants were a little more clever than usual.
    Vulture, 5 May 2023
  • Global viewers will have to wait a little longer, though, as the film still does not have a release date outside Japan.
    Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 July 2023
  • Nonetheless, the benchmark Straits Times Index closed little changed on the day.
    Abhishek Vishnoi, Bloomberg.com, 14 Feb. 2023
  • Have afternoon tea at the Palace Hotel. Want to feel a little more regal?
    Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 2 June 2023
  • The Freep’s Evan Petzold took a deep dive into the numbers and found Greene is, perhaps, a little too grounded.
    Ryan Ford, Detroit Free Press, 1 May 2023
  • The proportions were little changed from the more restricted 2022.
    Patrick Frater, Variety, 3 Jan. 2024
  • Her nails were filed into a square shape a little longer than fingertip length.
    Gabi Thorne, Allure, 21 June 2023
  • Start with a 12-hour eating window, say from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Make that window a little smaller each week.
    Sonya Collins, Fortune Well, 5 May 2023
  • There's also a cuff-version that's a little more subtle.
    Cailey Lindberg, Good Housekeeping, 19 Mar. 2023
  • Experts say there are early strategies to help a new space feel like home a little sooner.
    Lindsay Crudele, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Sep. 2023
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little

3 of 3 noun
  • But a little goes a long way, and this one went too far.
    Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, 15 June 2018
  • That did strike me as a little uncalled for,’’ the judge said.
    oregonlive.com, 8 July 2019
  • Any Sharks fan worth his or her salt gets a little choked up at the thought.
    Garrett Wroblewski/guest Columnist, The Mercury News, 9 June 2019
  • From the Heat there was precious little of note, a team that had run out of gas.
    Ira Winderman, Sun-Sentinel.com, 25 Apr. 2018
  • Kate intends to bring a little of her late mother-in-law to the role.
    Monique Jessen, PEOPLE.com, 11 Jan. 2022
  • Take a little of the outside world and bring it indoors.
    Savanna Bous, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2022
  • There’s a little of me in there, too, with video clips throughout.
    Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 16 Aug. 2019
  • Some weeks dusting was the hot item, other times the littles would sweep and mop up a storm.
    Martin Cizmar, WIRED, 20 Dec. 2023
  • Stocks and bonds are a little cheaper now, but not much, and the threats to the outlook are clearer.
    Richard Barley, WSJ, 23 Mar. 2018
  • Right now the future sound of indie rock is a little stressed out.
    Allison P. Davis, The Cut, 20 June 2018
  • Here's to all the grandparents in the world raising our littles!
    Tommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 4 Oct. 2023
  • Ladle a little of the squash and sauce mix, followed by three sheets to cover the sauce.
    Dana McMahan, The Courier-Journal, 27 Sep. 2022
  • The Reds showed a little late life on offense Friday night – just not enough to avoid a loss.
    Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati.com, 13 Apr. 2018
  • When the pasta is ready, use tongs to move it to the pan with the sauce, letting a little of the salty water come along, too.
    Washington Post, 3 Dec. 2021
  • And who doesn’t need a little controlled drama in life?
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 29 Apr. 2020
  • Set up dry as a tunnel for the littles to bounce and crawl through, or add water for all ages to race down.
    Angel Madison, Women's Health, 30 June 2023
  • The tone of our dialogue will change as my littles age and mature.
    Kimberly Zapata, Health.com, 10 Sep. 2019
  • Rub a little of the oil on the chicken breasts, sprinkle them with 1 teaspoon salt, and fit them into the pot.
    Leah Eskin, chicagotribune.com, 27 June 2018
  • Hills, creek, and wood bridges paired with the cooler temps found under the canopy make this a perfect spot to take the littles to get them out of the house.
    Jen Guadarrama, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Mar. 2024
  • Our entire mission is about adding a little more heart to life.
    Taylor Seely, USA TODAY, 13 July 2018
  • Reporter Shane Burke came to Utah this fall and tried to do a little of everything.
    Shane Burke, The Salt Lake Tribune, 5 Dec. 2021
  • An old bike will take you back in time, while also giving you the thrill of bringing a little of the past back into the present.
    Eben Weiss, Outside Online, 8 June 2021
  • Bring a little of the outdoors in without all that soil and watering.
    Marisa Lascala, Good Housekeeping, 6 Sep. 2022
  • The next season Johnson showed a little of the promise coaches saw.
    San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 June 2019
  • Try them out with your littles to set them up for reading success!
    Los Angeles Public Library, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2023
  • If the fans had any faith remaining before this game, there’s little of it left now.
    Nick Moyle, ExpressNews.com, 8 Jan. 2020
  • The Ryobi is a good little saw that got off to an unfortunate start.
    Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 9 July 2019
  • Heat a medium skillet and add a little of the remaining olive oil.
    The View, ABC News, 14 Jan. 2022
  • Tandy had a strong showing and did a little of everything.
    Adam Baum, The Enquirer, 7 Nov. 2020
  • Towards the song's end, the final words seem to catch in his throat, and the thousands watching from the Coachella Stage crowd get a little choked up with him. -- A.U.
    Billboard Staff, Billboard, 14 Apr. 2018

Some of 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.

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