small

[ smawl ]

adjective

, small·er, small·est.

1. of limited size; of comparatively restricted dimensions; not big; little:

   a small box.

   Synonyms: tiny

   Antonyms: big, large

2. slender, thin, or narrow:

   a small waist.

   Synonyms: slight

3. not large as compared with others of the same kind:

   a small elephant.

4. (of letters) lowercase ( def 1 ).
5. not great in amount, degree, extent, duration, value, etc.:

   a small salary.

6. not great numerically:

   a small army.

7. of low numerical value; denoted by a low number.
8. having but little land, capital, power, influence, etc., or carrying on business or some activity on a limited scale:

   a small enterprise.

9. of minor importance, moment, weight, or consequence:

   a small problem.

   Synonyms: unimportant, insignificant, paltry, inconsequential, nugatory, secondary, minor, petty, trifling

10. humble, modest, or unpretentious:

    small circumstances.

11. characterized by or indicative of littleness of mind or character; mean-spirited; petty:

    a small, miserly man.

    Synonyms: narrow, selfish, mean, narrow-minded, small-minded

12. of little strength or force:

    a small effort.

    Synonyms: feeble

13. (of sound or the voice) gentle; with little volume.
14. very young:

    when I was a small boy.

15. diluted; weak.

adverb

, small·er, small·est.

1. in a small manner:

   They talked big but lived small.

2. into small pieces:

   Slice the cake small.

3. in low tones; softly.

noun

1. something that is small:

   Do you prefer the small or the large?

2. a small or narrow part, as of the back.
3. those who are small:

   Democracy benefits the great and the small.

4. smalls, small goods or products.
5. smalls, British.
   1. underclothes.
   2. household linen, as napkins, pillowcases, etc.
6. smalls, British Informal. the responsions at Oxford University.
7. smalls, Mining. coal, ore, gangue, etc., in fine particles.

small

/ smɔːl /

adjective

1. comparatively little; limited in size, number, importance, etc
2. of little importance or on a minor scale

   a small business

3. lacking in moral or mental breadth or depth

   a small mind

4. modest or humble

   small beginnings

5. of low or inferior status, esp socially
6. (of a child or animal) young; not mature
7. unimportant, trivial

   a small matter

8. not outstanding

   a small actor

9. See capital, lower case
   of, relating to, or designating the ordinary modern minuscule letter used in printing and cursive writing Compare capital 1 See also lower case
10. lacking great strength or force

    a small effort

11. in fine particles

    small gravel

12. obsolete.
    (of beer, etc) of low alcoholic strength

adverb

1. into small pieces

   you have to cut it small

2. in a small or soft manner
3. feel small
   feel small to be humiliated or inferior

noun

1. the small
   the small an object, person, or group considered to be small

   do you want the small or the large?

2. a small slender part, esp of the back
3. informal.
   plural items of personal laundry, such as underwear

Derived Forms

• ˈsmallness, noun
• ˈsmallish, adjective

Other Words From

• smallness noun
• ultra·small adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of small¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English smale, Old English smæl; cognate with Dutch smal, German schmal

Word History and Origins

Origin of small¹

Old English smæl; related to Old High German smal, Old Norse smali small cattle

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. feel small, to be ashamed or mortified:

   Her unselfishness made me feel small.

More idioms and phrases containing small

• big fish in a small pond
• (small) cog in the wheel
• give thanks for small blessings
• it's a small world
• little (small) frog in a big pond
• make a (small) fortune
• no (small) wonder
• still small voice

Synonym Study

See little. Smaller, less indicate a diminution, or not so large a size or quantity in some respect. Smaller, as applied to concrete objects, is used with reference to size: smaller apples. Less is used of material in bulk, with reference to amount, and in cases where attributes such as value and degree are in question: A nickel is less than a dime (in value). A sergeant is less than a lieutenant (in rank). As an abstraction, amount may be either smaller or less, though smaller is usually used when the idea of size is suggested: a smaller opportunity. Less is used when the idea of quantity is present: less courage.

Example Sentences

According to Grady of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, well-placed donations to smaller organizations can have exponential impacts.

From Outside Online

Before I discard the plastic, I cut it up into tiny pieces so that small animals do not get caught in them and they don't try to eat them.

From Washington Post

Over small plates, Renee talked about her love for food and Willie talked about his love for cooking.

From Washington Post

So please think carefully before you demote small-talky situations to a priority below your laundry piles.

From Washington Post

Castor addressed a small crowd from the stage before Coach Bruce Arians and General Manager Jason Licht offered enthusiastic — and colorful — comments of their own.

From Washington Post

Something like fluoride, which is too small for normal filters, yanks away that feeling of agency.

From The Daily Beast

And yes, someone has already called Spencer a “Small Fry,” har har.

From The Daily Beast

It was seen by a small delegation of star-struck prelates and dignitaries who later described the film as “moving.”

From The Daily Beast

The judges who handle arraignments at criminal court in all five boroughs have a small fraction of their usual caseloads.

From The Daily Beast

Inside the guild, men in caps and long gowns sit in twos, weaving together in small rooms.

From The Daily Beast

The Duchess had also a tent for their sick men; so that we had a small town of our own here, and every body employed.

From Project Gutenberg

Suddenly, however, he became aware of a small black spot far ahead in the very middle of the unencumbered track.

From Project Gutenberg

He is perplexed and hindered by the lack of soldiers, but is doing his best with his small forces.

From Project Gutenberg

A small book, bound in full purple calf, lay half hidden in a nest of fine tissue paper on the dressing-table.

From Project Gutenberg

Before the outlaw can comply with this small request the horn sounds again.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cramped
• limited
• meager
• microscopic
• miniature
• minuscule
• modest
• narrow
• paltry
• poor
• short
• slight
• small-scale
• young

More About Small

What is a basic definition of small?

Small is an adjective that describes something as little or not of large size. Small can also describe something as being low in number or amount. Small has many other senses as an adjective, adverb, and noun and is used in several idioms.

If something or someone is small, they are little or diminutive. They are physically short or take up a low amount of physical space. Small can also describe something as being less big than other similar things. For example, a pony is a small horse. The noun form of this sense of small is smallness.

• Real-life examples: Chihuahuas are small dogs. Ants are small animals. A dime is a small coin.
• Used in a sentence: The letters were too small to read. 

Small also describes something as being low in number.

• Real-life examples: A group of 100 soldiers is a very small army. A town that only has 30 people living in it has a small population.
• Used in a sentence: I started my business with a small team of trusted friends. 

Small can also describe something as not being of a large amount or great degree.

• Used in a sentence: She won a few small bets before betting it all and winning the jackpot.

Where does small come from?

The first records of small come from before 900. It ultimately comes from the Old English smæl and is related to the Dutch smal and the German schmal.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to small?

• smallness (noun)
• ultrasmall (adjective)
• smallish (adjective)

What are some synonyms for small?

• little
• tiny
• miniscule
• paltry
• miniature

What are some words that share a root or word element with small? 

• small time
• small talk
• small change
• big fish in a small pond
• it’s a small world

What are some words that often get used in discussing small?

• size
• mass
• height
• amount
• number
• importance

How is small used in real life?

Small is a very common word used to mean something is little, low in number, or low in amount.

For the first time this year, Twitter is adding a small icon after the hashtag for the month.

A great excuse to us it… immoderately!#LGBTHM21

— LGBT+ History Month 🏳️‍🌈 (@LGBTHM) February 1, 2021

Small cats give me life. He's a beautiful boy 💕

— Nicola Fieldsend (@NFieldsend) April 9, 2021

‘Girl’ was originally a generic term for any small child, regardless of gender.

— Quite Interesting (@qikipedia) August 16, 2020

Try using small!

Is small used correctly in the following sentence?

The box was too small to hold my TV, so I had to find a bigger box.