small
Americanadjective
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of limited size; of comparatively restricted dimensions; not big; little.
a small box.
- Synonyms:
- tiny
-
slender, thin, or narrow.
a small waist.
- Synonyms:
- slight
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not large as compared with others of the same kind.
a small elephant.
-
(of letters) lowercase.
-
not great in amount, degree, extent, duration, value, etc..
a small salary.
-
not great numerically.
a small army.
-
of low numerical value; denoted by a low number.
-
having but little land, capital, power, influence, etc., or carrying on business or some activity on a limited scale.
a small enterprise.
-
of minor importance, moment, weight, or consequence.
a small problem.
- Synonyms:
- insignificant, paltry, inconsequential, nugatory, secondary, minor, unimportant, petty, trifling
-
humble, modest, or unpretentious.
small circumstances.
-
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
-
of little strength or force.
a small effort.
- Synonyms:
- feeble
-
(of sound or the voice) gentle; with little volume.
-
very young.
when I was a small boy.
-
diluted; weak.
adverb
-
in a small manner.
They talked big but lived small.
-
into small pieces.
Slice the cake small.
-
in low tones; softly.
noun
-
something that is small.
Do you prefer the small or the large?
-
a small or narrow part, as of the back.
-
those who are small.
Democracy benefits the great and the small.
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smalls, small goods or products.
-
British. smalls,
-
household linen, as napkins, pillowcases, etc.
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British Informal. smalls, the responsions at Oxford University.
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Mining. smalls, coal, ore, gangue, etc., in fine particles.
idioms
adjective
-
comparatively little; limited in size, number, importance, etc
-
of little importance or on a minor scale
a small business
-
lacking in moral or mental breadth or depth
a small mind
-
modest or humble
small beginnings
-
of low or inferior status, esp socially
-
(of a child or animal) young; not mature
-
unimportant, trivial
a small matter
-
not outstanding
a small actor
-
of, relating to, or designating the ordinary modern minuscule letter used in printing and cursive writing Compare capital 1 See also lower case
-
lacking great strength or force
a small effort
-
in fine particles
small gravel
-
obsolete (of beer, etc) of low alcoholic strength
adverb
-
into small pieces
you have to cut it small
-
in a small or soft manner
-
to be humiliated or inferior
noun
-
an object, person, or group considered to be small
do you want the small or the large?
-
a small slender part, esp of the back
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informal (plural) items of personal laundry, such as underwear
Usage
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.
- 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.
- Used in a sentence: She won a few small bets before betting it all and winning the jackpot.
Related Words
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.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of small
First recorded before 900; Middle English smale, Old English smæl; cognate with Dutch smal, German schmal
Explanation
Things that are small are little. Children, lower-case letters, lady bugs, and thumb tacks are all small. This is a comparative word for things that are tiny. A size small shirt won't fit a big person. If you ask for a small favor, it had better not be a big deal. When someone makes you feel small, that's not a physical thing: it means they made you feel bad, like less of a person. A Yorkie is a small dog, but it's not small compared to a mouse. Everything is small (and large) compared to something else.
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.
Small investors ended up with more shares than they knew what to do with and rushed to sell after trading started.
From Barron's • May 1, 2026
The book, which recently featured as a major plot device in Mackenzie Crook's BBC comedy Small Prophets, is seen by experts as the "absolute pinnacle of ornithological art".
From BBC • May 1, 2026
She is the founder and director of the contemporary art gallery Various Small Fires.
From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026
"Everyone should eat their ice cream -- maybe preferably earlier in the day. Small, consistent habits, like maintaining a structured meal routine, may help promote more regular eating patterns and support digestive function over time."
From Science Daily • May 1, 2026
Small even for his age, the five foot two, ninety-two-pound Stinney walked up to the chair with a Bible in his hand.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
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.
