Word
littlest
Phoneticslit·tlest
US/ˈɫɪtəɫəst/
UK/lˈɪtləst/
Definition
adj. smallest in size or amount in a group. You often use it for the youngest child in a family.
adj. smallest in size, amount, or degree within a compared group; youngest within a family or similar group.
Examples
“She picks the littlest apple from the basket.”
“The teacher asks the littlest child in the class to hand out the crayons.”
“Among the three cottages facing the sea, the littlest looks the most loved, with blue shutters and roses crowding the door.”
Examples
simple
“She picks the littlest apple from the basket.”
contextual
“The teacher asks the littlest child in the class to hand out the crayons.”
complex
“Among the three cottages facing the sea, the littlest looks the most loved, with blue shutters and roses crowding the door.”
Usage
Superlative of 'little'; typically placed before the noun it modifies.
Real-World Examples
“With two processor choices — one for everyday computing, the other for conquering creative work — Apple’s littlest Mac has never been more appealing.” - 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
- Occasional
- Level
- A1 · Beginner
- Updated
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