Word
few
US/ˈfju/
UK/fjˈuː/
Definitions
01a small number
A1 · Beginner
det. a small number of things or people, usually emphasizing that there are not many.
det. quantifier denoting a small number of countable items; often carries a negative prosody suggesting a lack or insufficiency.
日本語:少ない※
“Few people attended the meeting because of the heavy snow.”
“Few scholars would dispute the impact of the printing press on the rapid dissemination of Renaissance humanism across Europe.”
Pitfall
I have few friends, so I am happy.
I have a few friends, so I am happy.
Use 'a few' for a positive meaning (some). Use 'few' alone for a negative meaning (not enough).
Synonyms
02a small group of people/things
A2 · Elementary
pron. a small number of people or things, used without a noun following it.
pron. functions as a plural pronoun representing a small, indefinite number of people or entities.
日本語:少数※
“Many applied for the job, but few were chosen for an interview.”
“While many candidates expressed interest in the leadership role, only a select few possessed the requisite experience in international law.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03the pilots of the Battle of Britain
C2 · Proficiency Plural noun British English · Formal
n. the small group of pilots who fought for the UK in the Battle of Britain in 1940.
n. a collective noun referring specifically to the Royal Air Force pilots who participated in the Battle of Britain during World War II.
“Every year, the country remembers the Few who defended the skies.”
“Churchill's famous tribute to the Few immortalised the bravery of the pilots who prevented a full-scale invasion during the summer of 1940.”
04weather: cloud cover
C1 · Advanced Science Technical
det. a weather term meaning only a tiny part of the sky is covered by clouds.
det. a technical meteorological term indicating a cloud cover of one to two oktas (eighths) of the sky.
“The forecast says there will be few clouds and plenty of sun today.”
“The aviation weather report indicated few clouds at three thousand feet, ensuring excellent visibility for the trainee pilot's first solo flight.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Confusables
Few modifies plural countable nouns, while little modifies uncountable nouns.
RememberFew for things you count; little for things you weigh or measure.
Etymology
From Middle English fewe, from Old English fēaw (“few”), from Proto-West Germanic fau, from Proto-Germanic fawaz (“few”), from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂w- (“few, small”). Cognate with Old Saxon fā (“few”), Old High German fao, fō (“few, little”), Old Norse fár (“few”), Gothic 𐍆𐌰𐌿𐍃 (faus, “few”). Also related with Latin paucus (“little, few”) and pauper (“poor”), from which latter English poor and pauper; see these.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0