little

Small in size.

• She carried a little bag.
• We stayed in a little house by the sea.
• Those little boxes contain seeds.

Similar words: small, tiny

Opposites: big, large

Common phrases: a little house, a little box, a little piece

Young and still growing, especially when spoken about with affection.

• The little girl waved.
• My little brother started school today.
• Two little kittens slept beside their mother.

Similar words: young

Opposites: grown-up, adult

Common phrases: a little boy, my little sister, little children

Lasting a short time or covering a short distance.

• Wait a little while.
• We walked a little way along the beach.
• A little rest made her feel better.

Similar words: short, brief

Opposites: long

Common phrases: a little while, a little way, a little walk, a little distance

Only to a small degree or very rarely.

• The village has changed little.
• This treatment is little used today.
• She cared little about expensive clothes.

Similar words: slightly, not much, hardly

Opposites: greatly

Common phrases: little known, little changed, little used

Not at all, especially when someone has no idea what will happen.

• Little did I know what was coming.
• He little suspected that his friend was lying.
• Little did they realize how much their lives would change.

How to use it: little + auxiliary verb + subject + verb (Little did she know that a surprise awaited her.)

Similar words: not at all

Common phrases: little did someone know, little did someone suspect, little did someone realize

A small amount of something, often less than is needed or wanted.

• We have little time.
• She showed little interest in the game.
• Very little food was left after the party.

How to use it: little + uncountable noun (There is little water left.); little of + determiner/pronoun (Little of the money reached the village.)

Similar words: not much

Opposites: much

Common phrases: little time, very little money, little or no

A small amount, often less than is needed, without naming the thing being discussed.

• Little is known about her childhood.
• We ate most of it, so little remained.
• How can they achieve so much with so little?

How to use it: little of something (Little of what he said was useful.)

Similar words: not much

Opposites: much

Common phrases: little is known, little remained, do very little