a few

Idioms  

1. A small number of persons or things. This phrase can differ slightly from few used alone, which means “not many.” For example, The party was to end at eight, but a few stayed on indicates that a small number of guests remained, whereas The party began at eight, and few attended means that hardly any guests came. [Late 1200s] Also see quite a bit (few).

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

a few

Still, there were only a few of us and we were facing 20-foot flames.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

However, with 20 houses renovated or rebuilt, a few former hostages have come back to live here.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

This slight adjustment, suggested by Ken Tropin, chairman of the firm which he founded in 1994, had a positive contribution in a few asset classes.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 7, 2026

Then suddenly, when he took a look at the building a few minutes later, it was empty.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

I say hi to a few of the kids I know from classes.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

Related Words

• individual
• numerous
• particular
• precise
• special
• specific
• specified
• various