little

UK: /ˈlɪt^əl/ US: /ˈlɪtəl/ ,(lit′l)

Inflections of 'little' (adv):

less

adv comparative (When talking about amount)

lesser

adv comparative (To modify an adjective—e.g. "That is a little-known work of art, but this is an even lesser-known one.")

least

adv superlative

Inflections of 'little' (adj):

littler

adj comparative (For size or age—e.g."That tree is little, but the tree next to it is even littler.")

littlest

adj superlative (For size or age—e.g. "Theo is the littlest of my three little brothers.")

less

adj comparative (For amount—e.g. "I have little money. Certainly less money than him.")

lesser

adj comparative (For degree or intensity—e.g. "She has little love for him. Certainly, her love for him is lesser than her love for her mother.")

least

adj superlative (For amount—e.g. "I have little money, but Jim is the one who has least money out of all of us.")

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

lit•tle /ˈlɪtəl/   adj., lit•tler or less /lɛs/  or less•er, lit•tlest or least/list/   adv., less, least, n. 
adj. 

1. small in size, amount, or scale;
   not big:
   [before a noun] a little desk; a little voice.
2. short in length, duration, or extent;
   brief:
   [before a noun] Give me a little time.
3. small in number:
   [before a noun] a little group of scientists.
4. This word is used before a noun and without the article a to mean "small in amount or degree;
   not much,'' and is used to emphasize the feeling that the amount is not as much as one would like:
   [before a noun] There is little hope of victory. I have very little money left.
5. This word, when preceded by the article a, is used to mean "of a certain amount;
   some;
   more than expected, appreciable,'' and is used to emphasize the feeling that the amount is enough or sufficient, though perhaps just barely so:
   [before a noun* a + ~ + noun] I have a little money left; maybe it's enough for the movies. We're having a little difficulty.
6. younger or youngest:
   [before a noun] her little brother.
7. minor;
   unimportant:
   life's little pleasures.
8. mean, narrow, or not willing to understand others:
   little minds.
9. This word is sometimes used before a noun to indicate feelings of affection or amusement:
   [before a noun] Bless your little heart!

adv. 

10. not at all:
    [before a verb] He little knows what awaits him.
11. This word is used with or without the article a to mean "in only a small amount or degree;
    not much;
    slightly,'' and emphasizes the feeling that the action or the amount indicated is not very much and is perhaps less than would be best:
    a little known work of art; She's little better than she was before the treatment.

n. 

12. This word is used without the article a as a noncount noun to mean "a small amount, quantity, or degree,'' and to emphasize the feeling that the amount is less than might be expected or proper:
    [uncountable] They did little to make us comfortable.
13. This word, when preceded by the article a, is used to mean "a certain amount;
    some;
    an amount perhaps more than expected,'' and is used to emphasize the feeling that the amount is enough or sufficient, though perhaps just barely so:
    [countable* singular;

    a + ~]

    Save a little for me.
14. a short distance:
    [countable* singular;

    a + ~]

    It's down the road a little.
15. a short time:
    [countable* singular;

    a + ~]

    Stay here for a little.

Idioms

16. Idioms little by little, by small degrees;
    gradually:
    Little by little he was improving.

lit•tle•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

lit•tle  (lit′l), adj., lit•tler or less or less•er, lit•tlest or least, adv., less, least, n. 
adj. 

1. small in size; not big;
   not large;
   tiny:
   a little desk in the corner of the room.
2. short in duration;
   not extensive;
   short;
   brief:
   a little while.
3. small in number:
   a little group of scientists.
4. small in amount or degree;
   not much:
   little hope.
5. of a certain amount;
   appreciable (usually prec. by a):
   We're having a little difficulty.
6. being such on a small scale:
   little farmers.
7. younger or youngest:
   He's my little brother.
8. not strong, forceful, or loud;
   weak:
   a little voice.
9. small in consideration, importance, position, affluence, etc.:
   little discomforts; tax reductions to help the little fellow.
10. mean, narrow, or illiberal:
    a little mind.
11. endearingly small or considered as such:
    Bless your little heart!
12. amusingly small or so considered:
    a funny little way of laughing.
13. contemptibly small, petty, mean, etc., or so considered:
    filthy little political tricks.

adv. 

14. not at all (used before a verb):
    He little knows what awaits him.
15. in only a small amount or degree;
    not much;
    slightly:
    a little known work of art; little better than a previous effort.
16. seldom;
    rarely;
    infrequently:
    We see each other very little.

n. 

17. a small amount, quantity, or degree:
    They did little to make him comfortable. If you want some ice cream, there's a little in the refrigerator.
18. a short distance:
    It's down the road a little.
19. a short time:
    Stay here for a little.
20. Idioms in little, on a small scale;
    in miniature:
    a replica in little of Independence Hall.
21. Idioms little by little, by small degrees;
    gradually:
    The water level rose little by little.
22. Idioms make little of:
    • belittle:
      to make little of one's troubles.
    • to understand or interpret only slightly:
      Scholars made little of the newly discovered text.
23. Idioms not a little, to a great extent;
    very much;
    considerably:
    It tired me not a little to stand for three hours.
24. Idioms think little of, to treat casually;
    regard as trivial:
    They think little of driving 50 miles to see a movie.

• Middle English, Old English lȳtel (lȳt few, small + -el diminutive suffix), cognate with Dutch luttel, Old High German luzzil, Old Norse lītill bef. 900

lit•tlish  (lit′l ish, lit′lish), adj.  lit′tle•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. –4. tiny, teeny, wee.
  Little, diminutive, minute, small refer to that which is not large or significant.
  Little (the opposite of big) is very general, covering size, extent, number, quantity, amount, duration, or degree:
  a little boy; a little time.
  Small (the opposite of large and of great) can many times be used interchangeably with little, but is especially applied to what is limited or below the average in size:
  small oranges.
  Diminutive denotes (usually physical) size that is much less than the average or ordinary; it may suggest delicacy:
  the baby's diminutive fingers; diminutive in size but autocratic in manner.
  Minute suggests that which is so tiny it is difficult to discern, or that which implies attentiveness to the smallest details:
  a minute quantity; a minute exam.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

little / ˈlɪt^əl/ determiner

1. (often preceded by a) a small quantity, extent, or duration of: the little hope there is left, very little milk
2. (as pronoun): save a little for me
3. not much: little damage was done
4. make little of ⇒
   See make of3
5. not a little ⇒ very
6. a lot
7. quite a little ⇒ a considerable amount
8. think little of ⇒ to have a low opinion of

adjective

1. of small or less than average size
2. young: a little boy, our little ones
3. endearingly familiar; dear: my husband's little ways
4. contemptible, mean, or disagreeable: your filthy little mind

adverb

1. (usually preceded by a) in a small amount; to a small extent or degree; not a lot: to laugh a little
2. (used preceding a verb) not at all, or hardly: he little realized his fate
3. not much or often: we go there very little now
4. little by little ⇒ by small degrees

See also less, lesser, leastEtymology: Old English lӯtel; related to lӯr few, Old High German luzzil