# little

/ˈɫɪtəɫ/ (US) · /lˈɪtəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/little
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. small size

adjective · CEFR A1

small in size or amount.

For teachers: of small size, dimensions, or quantity; not big.

- The cat sat on a little wooden chair in the corner.
- The architect included a little garden in the blueprints to provide a touch of greenery within the urban concrete structure.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun.

### 2. young

adjective · CEFR A2

young, especially when talking about children or siblings.

For teachers: denoting a young age or a younger sibling.

- My little sister is starting school for the first time this September.
- When I was little, we used to spend every summer at my grandparents' farm in the countryside.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'little brother' or 'little sister'.

### 3. short time

adjective · CEFR A2

short in time or distance.

For teachers: brief in duration or short in distance.

- Let's wait a little while longer for the rain to stop.
- After a little walk through the park, they found a quiet bench near the lake to discuss the proposal.

### 5. not much

adverb · CEFR B1

not much or not often.

For teachers: to a small extent or degree; infrequently.

- He slept very little last night because he was worried about the test.
- Little did they know that the small startup they founded in a garage would one day become a global empire.

Usage: Often used before verbs like 'know', 'think', or 'realize'.

### 6. a small amount

noun · CEFR A1

a small amount or a short time.

For teachers: a small quantity, amount, or degree; often used in the phrase 'a little'.

- Could I have a little of that cake, please?
- The doctor advised that even a little of the medication could cause a reaction in sensitive patients.

Usage: Usually appears as 'a little' or 'a little of'.

---

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.