small

SaySMAWL/smɔl//smɔːl/

17 meanings of small

1
not bigadjective
Little in size, amount, or number, or not very important.
Like a mouse standing next to an elephant.
She lives in a small apartment near the park.
The kids found a few small stones by the river.
UsageSay a small amount or a small number. Little can sound warmer.
Similarlittle, tiny, minute, minuscule, microscopic
Oppositebig, large
2
adjective
Run on a limited scale, not as big as larger companies.
Like a corner store next to a huge supermarket.
She runs a small bakery on the corner of our street.
Small farmers often struggle to compete with giant agricultural firms.
UsageSay a small business or small shops.
Similarlittle
Oppositelarge, big, major
3
youngadjectivefiguratively
Young in age, like a child who has not grown up yet.
Like a puppy that has not yet grown into a full-size dog.
She has loved singing since she was small.
When the boys were small, they shared a bedroom.
UsageSay when I was small.
Similarlittle, young, wee
Oppositeadult, old

Less common meanings

4
sized itemnouncountablenoun from verb
The size called small, below medium, for clothes or drinks, or something in that size, or a person who wears it.
Like picking the littlest cup on the menu.
I ordered a small, but it was still too much coffee.
Can I get two smalls and one large, please?
UsageSay a small, two smalls.
Oppositelarge
5
adjective
Of the size called small when you buy clothes, food, or drinks.
She asked for a small drink instead of the large one.
I'll have a burger and a small fries, please.
UsageSay a small coffee or a small T-shirt.
Oppositelarge
Note
6
faint soundadjective
Of a voice or sound, quiet and weak, often because the person is shy, scared or sad.
"I broke the window," the boy said in a small voice.
From the back of the closet came a small, frightened cry.
UsageSay someone spoke in a small voice.
Similarquiet, faint, weak, timid
Oppositeloud, strong
Note
7
pettyadjective
Mean and selfish, thinking only in unkind ways.
Like someone who refuses to share even a tiny piece of cake.
It was small of him to mock her accent.
It was small of him to keep all the credit for himself.
Similarpetty, mean, ungenerous, narrow-minded
Oppositegenerous, magnanimous, noble
8
ashamedadjective
Feeling ashamed and unimportant, as if you do not matter.
Like feeling tiny when everyone is staring at your mistake.
His harsh words made her feel small in front of everyone.
I felt small after being corrected so publicly.
UsageSay feel small or make someone feel small.
Similarlittle
Oppositebig
Note
9
briefadjective
Lasting only a short time, not long at all.
Like a quick blink: over before you notice.
There was a small delay before the movie started, but nobody minded.
After a small pause, she answered the question.
Similarshort, brief, quick
Oppositelong, lengthy, extended
10
adverb
In a way that is not big, on a small scale.
Like planting one seed instead of a whole field.
The company started small and grew slowly.
He prefers to live small, spending only what he needs.
UsageSay start small.
Similarmodestly
Oppositebig
11
verbrareintransitivenoun from verb
To make something smaller, or to become smaller.
And smalled till she was nought at all.
1917, Thomas Hardy, The Clock of the YearsHere, smalled means became smaller.
Similarshrink, diminish, dwindle, lessen, decrease
Oppositegrow, increase, enlarge, expand
12
lower caseadjective
Written as a lowercase letter, not a capital one.
Like the difference between writing 'a' and 'A'.
Write the word with a small 'e' at the start, not a capital.
The sign used a small 'i' instead of a capital one.
UsageSay a small 'e' or a small letter. Lowercase means the same.
Similarlowercase, minuscule
Oppositecapital, uppercase, majuscule
Note
13
into piecesadverb
Cut or broken up into very tiny pieces.
Like breaking a cracker into tiny crumbs.
Chop the garlic small so it cooks evenly.
Cut the onion small so the kids won't notice it in the sauce.
UsageSay chop it small.
Similarfinely
Oppositecoarsely, roughly
Note
14
lower backnouncountablenoun from verb
The narrow lower part of your back, or, rarely, the narrowest part of something else.
Like the thin middle of an hourglass.
He felt a sharp pain in the small of his back.
She rested her hand on the small of his back as they danced.
UsageSay the small of your back.
Note
15
adverbobsolete
Only a little, not very much.
It small avails my mood.
1594, William Shakespeare, Lucrece (First Quarto)Here, small means only a little, so it helps only a little.
Note
16
adverbobsolete
With a quiet, thin, high voice.
That's all one: you shall play it in a mask, and / you may speak as small as you will.
c. 1595, William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”Here, small means in a thin, high, quiet voice.
Note
17
adjectivearchaic
Thin and graceful in shape.
Note

Practice

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Origin

From Old English "smæl," meaning small, narrow, or slender. It goes back to an older Germanic word, and perhaps to an Indo-European root.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Small derives from Old English smæl, meaning small, narrow, or slender. en.wiktionary.org
The word has older Germanic roots. en.wiktionary.org