small

[ smawl ]

/ smɔl /

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See synonyms for: small / smaller / smallest / smallness on Thesaurus.com

adjective, small·er, small·est.

of limited size; of comparatively restricted dimensions; not big; little: a small box.

slender, thin, or narrow: a small waist.

not large as compared with others of the same kind: a small elephant.

(of letters) lowercase (def. 1).

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.

humble, modest, or unpretentious: small circumstances.

characterized by or indicative of littleness of mind or character; mean-spirited; petty: a small, miserly man.

of little strength or force: a small effort.

(of sound or the voice) gentle; with little volume.

very young: when I was a small boy.

diluted; weak.

adverb, small·er, small·est.

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.

smalls, small goods or products.

smalls, British.

underclothes.
household linen, as napkins, pillowcases, etc.

smalls, British Informal. the responsions at Oxford University.

smalls, Mining. coal, ore, gangue, etc., in fine particles.

OTHER WORDS FOR small

1 tiny.

2 slight.

9 trifling, petty, unimportant, minor, secondary, nugatory, inconsequential, paltry, insignificant.

11 small-minded, narrow-minded, mean, selfish, narrow.

12 feeble.

See synonyms for small on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR small

1 large, big.

See antonyms for small on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about small

feel small, to be ashamed or mortified: Her unselfishness made me feel small.

Origin of small

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

synonym study for small

1. See little. 1, 3, 5. 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 WORDS FROM small

smallness, nounul·tra·small, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use small in a sentence

In this smaller town, there are only five families, the village chief says.
The Congo's Forgotten Colonial Getaway|Nina Strochlic|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The kerfuffle began with a £200 bet, followed by several smaller bets in quick succession.
Could The Queen Abdicate on Christmas Day?|Tom Sykes|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Before the Eric Garner decision, there were smaller Ferguson-inspired protests in New York.
Eric Garner Protesters Have a Direct Line to City Hall|Jacob Siegel|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After all, smaller developing nations like Cameroon often depend on trade with and aid from the West.
The Straight Hero of Cameroon’s Gays|Jay Michaelson|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Paddle8 works better than a smaller regional auction house because it is nimbler and its costs—to the seller and buyer—are lower.
William, Kate, and Jay Z’s Favorite Art Star: Alexander Gilkes' World of Rock Stars and Royalty|Tim Teeman|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Fibrinous casts are characteristic of fibrinous bronchitis, but may also be found in diphtheria of the smaller bronchi.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
Liking for a single colour is a considerably smaller display of mind than an appreciation of the relation of two colours.
Children's Ways|James Sully
When Grandfather Mole overheard Mrs. Robin making such a remark he would quite likely advise her to "try a smaller one."
The Tale of Grandfather Mole|Arthur Scott Bailey
The height of the tower from the level of the street is 105 feet, the slated towers over the lateral pediments being smaller.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
There were more than ten thousand francs in mille notes and others of smaller denominations.
Rosemary in Search of a Father|C. N. Williamson

British Dictionary definitions for small

small

/ (smɔːl) /

adjective

comparatively little; limited in size, number, importance, etc

of little importance or on a minor scalea small business

lacking in moral or mental breadth or deptha small mind

modest or humblesmall beginnings

of low or inferior status, esp socially

(of a child or animal) young; not mature

unimportant, triviala small matter

not outstandinga small actor

of, relating to, or designating the ordinary modern minuscule letter used in printing and cursive writingCompare capital 1 (def. 13) See also lower case

lacking great strength or forcea small effort

in fine particlessmall gravel

obsolete (of beer, etc) of low alcoholic strength

adverb

into small piecesyou have to cut it small

in a small or soft manner

feel small to be humiliated or inferior

noun

the small an object, person, or group considered to be smalldo you want the small or the large?

a small slender part, esp of the back

(plural) informal, mainly British items of personal laundry, such as underwear

Derived forms of small

smallish, adjectivesmallness, noun

Word Origin for small

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with small

small

In addition to the idioms beginning with small

small beer
small cog in a large wheel
small frog in a big pond
small fry
small hours
small print
small talk
small time
small wonder

also see:

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

small

OTHER WORDS FOR small

OPPOSITES FOR small

Idioms about small

Origin of small

synonym study for small

OTHER WORDS FROM small

Words related to small

How to use small in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for small

Derived forms of small

Word Origin for small

Other Idioms and Phrases with small