tiny
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of tiny
First recorded in 1590–1600; late Middle English tine “very small” + -y 1; further origin uncertain
Explanation
Tiny means very small. Atoms are tiny. Hawaii is tiny, in comparison to the continental US. If you wear a size five shoe as an adult, you could be said to have tiny feet. Throughout the world there are stories about tiny mythical heroes, such as Tom Thumb, a tiny baby, who grew into a tiny child then a man so tiny he was no larger than an average man's thumb. One of the things that people love about doll houses are seeing all the artifacts we live with day to day replicated in miniature, or tiny, form.
Vocabulary lists containing tiny
It's the Little Things: Synonyms for "Small"
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"Eleven," Vocabulary from the short story
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"Imperfect Me"
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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.
Tiny changes in nearby structures cause measurable resonance shifts, allowing the system to detect extremely fine details.
From Science Daily • May 21, 2026
Whether it’s Tiny Desk or it’s at a day party like Everyday People ...
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026
"It's all about balance. We know that too much sedentary screen time can have a negative effect on children's development," speech and language therapist Janet Cooper previously told the BBC's Tiny Happy People website.
From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026
Tiny Health and Alba Health sell gut health tests for babies for $249 and $349, respectively.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026
Tiny waves flutter over the surface of the pond.
From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed
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.
