DictionaryAI

few

FYOO/fjuː/

5 meanings of few

Practice

  1. 1
    a small numberdeterminer
    Some, or a small number of, used after a word such as 'a' or 'the'.

    We have a few minutes before the train leaves.

    She bought a few apples at the market.

    UsageA few means some, but few means not many. Quite a few means many.

    Similarseveral, some

    Oppositemany

  2. 2
    not manydeterminer
    Only a small number of, not as many as expected.

    Few people showed up to the early meeting.

    She had few friends when she first moved to the city.

    UsageSay few friends, but little money. Say fewer people, less time.

    Oppositemany

    Note
  3. 3
    pronoun
    A small number of people or things.

    Many people tried, but few succeeded.

    Few of the children liked the new rules at first.

    UsageSay few of us, with a plural verb: few were ready.

    Oppositemany

Less common meanings

  1. 4
    determiner
    Showing about a 10 percent chance that rain or snow will fall.
  2. 5
    determiner
    Covering only one or two eighths of the sky with clouds.

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Origin

From Old English fēaw, meaning "few." It goes back to very old Germanic and Indo-European roots meaning "few" or "small."

Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

  • Few descends from Old English fēaw, meaning “few.” en.wiktionary.org
  • Few ultimately descends from ancient Germanic and Indo-European forms meaning “few” or “small.” en.wiktionary.org