little

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /'lɪtl̩/ or /ˈlɪtl/
• SAMPA: /"lItl/

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Adjective

Positive little

Comparative littler

Superlative littlest

A little dog

A little girl falling down

1. If something is little, its size is not big.

   I just ate a tiny little piece of the cake.

2. (usually before a noun) A little while, distance, etc. is not long.

   Could you just wait a little while more?

3. A little person or animal is young.

   Two little boys were fighting on the playground.

Synonyms

• small
• short

Antonyms

• big
• large
• long

Determiner

Determiner little

Comparative less

Superlative least

1. (indefinite) (singular) (non-count) Little money, room, help, etc. is a small amount of it; not much.
   • Synonym: bit
   • Antonyms: much and lot

   They understood little or no French.

   He was busy and had little time for children.

   Try to spend as little of your money as possible.

   We saw little of her after the first day.

   Little is known about the problem.

   The building was destroyed leaving little more than rock and glass.

   She's a quiet person with little to say about these things.

   This has little to do with him and a lot to do with you.

   We saved what little was left.

Related words

• a little