tiny
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- tinily adverb
- tininess noun
Etymology
Origin of tiny
First recorded in 1590–1600; late Middle English tine “very small” + -y 1; further origin uncertain
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The quarter’s best performer was the tiny $52 million Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF, which uses futures to capture the cost of shipping oil with tankers.
From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026
A pair of tiny sun-baked islands called Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb are Iran’s eyes on the channel, and of course have boasted military fortifications.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026
The difference is a matter of a few hundred bucks, and what you pay in capital gains taxes is likely to swamp any tiny performance advantage.
From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026
The tiny Caribbean island of Curacao will become the smallest nation to participate in a World Cup when they take on Germany, Ivory Coast and Ecuador in Group E.
From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026
All the houses look the same, with their tiny backyards.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
![]()
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.