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little

[ˈlɪtəl]

little Definition

  • 1small in size, amount, or degree
  • 2young or younger
  • 3not much or not enough

Using little: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "little" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    She has a little dog that follows her everywhere.

  • Example

    He was a little boy when he first learned to ride a bike.

  • Example

    I have little time to spare for hobbies.

  • Example

    The restaurant serves little food for the price.

little Synonyms and Antonyms

Idioms Using little

  • a harmless or trivial lie, especially one told to avoid hurting someone's feelings

    Example

    He told a little white lie to his friend to avoid hurting her feelings.

  • a child who is present during adult conversations and may overhear things they are not meant to hear

    Example

    Be careful what you say, there's a little pitcher with big ears in the room.

  • people of small stature, or a term used to refer to ordinary or unimportant people

    Example

    The movie features a group of little people as the main characters.

Phrases with little

  • a simple and elegant black dress that can be worn on various occasions

    Example

    She wore a little black dress to the party.

  • gradually or slowly over time

    Example

    She learned to speak French little by little.

  • a little bird told me

    used to indicate that the speaker knows something but will not reveal the source of the information

    Example

    A little bird told me that you got a promotion.

Origins of little

from Old English 'lytel'

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Summary: little in Brief

The word 'little' [ˈlɪtəl] describes something that is small in size, amount, or degree. It can also refer to youthfulness, as in 'He was a little boy when he first learned to ride a bike.' The phrase 'little by little' denotes gradual progress, while 'a little bird told me' implies that the speaker knows something but won't reveal the source. Idioms like 'little white lie' and 'little people' add nuance to the term.

How do native speakers use this expression?