# few

/ˈfju/ (US) · /fjˈuː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/few
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 2. a small number of people or things

pronoun · CEFR B1

a small number of people or things, used instead of a noun.

For teachers: functions as a pronominal head representing a small, indefinite number of entities previously mentioned or understood.

- Many applied for the job, but few were chosen for an interview.
- While many expressed interest in the volunteer programme, only a dedicated few actually completed the training requirements.

### 3. the few (a small elite group)

noun · CEFR B2

a small, special group of people who are different from the majority.

For teachers: refers to a small, often elite or select group of individuals, frequently contrasted with 'the many'.

- The secrets of the club were known only to the few.
- The policy was designed to benefit the many rather than the privileged few who controlled the industry.

### 4. weather/clouds

determiner · CEFR C1 · Technical

used by weather experts to mean a very small amount of clouds in the sky.

For teachers: a technical meteorological term indicating a cloud cover of one to two oktas (eighths) of the sky.

- The forecast for today is mostly sunny with few clouds.
- The aviation report indicated few clouds at three thousand feet, ensuring excellent visibility for the incoming flight.

## Examples

- Many people applied for the job, but only a few were chosen.
- While the store was crowded this morning, only a few of the customers actually bought anything.
- The committee interviewed dozens of candidates, yet only a few possessed the specific technical expertise required to manage the project's final phase.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.