small

[ smawl ]

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.

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 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

Other words from small

smallness, noun
ul·tra·small, adjective

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

How to use small in a sentence

“There was still no pulse, not even the smallest bit,” Johnson says.
'Please Don't Die!': The Frantic Battle to Save Murdered Cops | Michael Daly | December 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
It seeps up into the city from below, through even the smallest cracks and drains.
The Fiery Underground Oil Pit Eating L.A. | Geoff Manaugh | December 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Because the fact of the matter is the Today show part is really, in a way, the smallest part in the great 34-hour scheme of it.
Al Roker, Sleepless in 30 Rock for #Rokerthon | Lloyd Grove | November 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The concentration of PM2.5, the smallest particulate matter, is at 153 micrograms per cubic meter.
Beijing’s ‘Star Trek’ APEC Summit | Jake Adelstein | November 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
He won then with less than 38 percent of the vote, the smallest plurality of any winning gubernatorial candidate in the country.
Republican Wave Carries Maine Governor Paul LePage to Victory | Ben Jacobs | November 5, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

The pink flowers are the largest while those of a yellow color are the smallest.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.
As small letters weary the eye most, so also the smallest affairs disturb us most.
Pearls of Thought | Maturin M. Ballou
“I think it is a knock at the door,” said Mr. Pickwick, as if there could be the smallest doubt of the fact!
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2) | Charles Dickens
She ignored his very presence, though readily, eagerly forthcoming to the smallest sign from Tony.
The Wave | Algernon Blackwood
Its vitals were going—were gone, before the smallest indications of mischief appeared upon the surface.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV. | Various

British Dictionary definitions for small

small

/ (smɔːl) /

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 (def. 13) 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

feel small to be humiliated or inferior

noun

the small 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

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

Origin of small

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

Derived forms of small

smallish, adjective
smallness, noun

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

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