small

adjective \ ˈsmȯl \

Updated on: 8 Dec 2017

Definition of small

1 a : having comparatively little size or slight dimensions

b : lowercase

2 a : minor in influence, power, or rank

b : operating on a limited scale

3 : lacking in strength

a small voice

4 a : little or close to zero in an objectively measurable aspect (such as quantity)

b : made up of few or little units

5 a : of little consequence : trivial

b : humble, modest

6 : limited in degree

7 a : mean, petty

b : reduced to a humiliating position

—

smallish

play \ˈsmȯ-lish\ adjective

—

smallness

play \ˈsmȯl-nəs\ noun

See small defined for English-language learners

See small defined for kids

Examples of small in a Sentence

They live in a small house.
a small glass of soda
She moved to a smaller town.
The toy is small enough to fit in my pocket.
This room is a little smaller than that one.
The movie was a small success.
There are still a few small details we have to deal with.
It's only a small mistake.
The change had only a small impact on the community.

Recent Examples of small from the Web

Or offering mortgages for homes that normally would be too small to be worth a banker’s trouble.

— matthew goldstein, New York Times, "Detroit: From Motor City to Housing Incubator," 4 Nov. 2017
But if the individual congregations for each are small, their cumulative effect is not.

— The Economist, "The stand," 4 Nov. 2017
The effects in that study are small, and need replicating, but make sense to me.

— andrew sullivan, Daily Intelligencer, "How the Democrats Are Failing the Resistance," 3 Nov. 2017
The spending in Michigan and Pennsylvania was even smaller.

— alexis c. madrigal, The Atlantic, "15 Things We Learned From the Tech Giants at the Senate Hearings," 2 Nov. 2017
The Kilroy project can go forward without preleasing, Krebs said, because of the building’s relatively small size.

— roger showley, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Kilroy plans Little Italy office-retail building," 2 Nov. 2017
Only a small amount of salmon remained, but the kids lined up to get their containers filled and took home every scrap.

— lisa ellis, Philly.com, "We'll take second of the steamed vegetables, please," 2 Nov. 2017
There are some easy ways to avoid it: Give to charity or transfer small amounts of money to the next generation tax-free.

— Bloomberg.com, "Is the ‘Death Tax’ Debate Finally Over?," 31 Oct. 2017
As reported by the CAP Times, the small-dollar lending program will partner with a credit union.

— Essence.com, "Sabrina Madison's New 'Progress Center For Black Women' Is About To Change The Game," 31 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'small.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of small

Middle English smal, from Old English smæl; akin to Old High German smal small, Greek mēlon small domestic animal

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

small Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of small

small, little, diminutive, minute, tiny, miniature mean noticeably below average in size. small and little are often interchangeable, but small applies more to relative size determined by capacity, value, number.

- a relatively small backyard

little is more absolute in implication often carrying the idea of petiteness, pettiness, insignificance, or immaturity.

- your pathetic little smile

diminutive implies abnormal smallness.

- diminutive bonsai plants

minute implies extreme smallness.

- a minute amount of caffeine in the soda

tiny is an informal equivalent to minute.

- tiny cracks formed in the painting

miniature applies to an exactly proportioned reproduction on a very small scale.

- a dollhouse with miniature furnishings

small

adverb

Definition of small

1 : in or into small pieces

2 : without force or loudness

speak as small as you will
—William Shakespeare

3 : in a small manner

Recent Examples of small from the Web

The duo is starting small, performing their procedures at the outpatient surgery facility Endo-Surgical Center of Florida on North Dean Road.

— naseem s. miller, OrlandoSentinel.com, "'Dr. 90210' star accepting patients in Orlando," 13 May 2017

First Known Use of small

before 12th century

small

noun

Definition of small

1 : a part smaller and especially narrower than the remainder

the small of the back

2 a smalls plural : small-sized products

b smalls plural, chiefly British : smallclothes; especially : underwear

See small defined for English-language learners

Examples of small in a Sentence

These shirts are all smalls.
“What size ice-cream cones do you want?” “We'll take three larges and a small.”

Recent Examples of small from the Web

The Suns can be tempted at some point to give up Jackson, an athletic small forward who would help the Cavs.

— terry pluto, cleveland.com, "Cleveland Browns camp early quarterback report -- Terry Pluto (video)," 3 Aug. 2017
Sea Pride normally sells a dozen crabs for $16 for smalls to $100 for jumbos.

— jeff barker, baltimoresun.com, "Abundant crabs not too pricey for Maryland's Fourth," 30 June 2017
In addition to music, Wallace has dabbled in movies, starring as a young Smalls in the 2009 biopic about his father, Notorious.

— dave quinn, PEOPLE.com, "Biggie Smalls’ 20-Year-Old Son Pays Tribute to His Father in Rare Appearance: ‘I Live My Life by His Words’," 22 May 2017

First Known Use of small

15th century

SMALL Defined for English Language Learners

small

adjective

Definition of small for English Language Learners

: little in size
: few in number or little in amount
: not very important

small

noun

Definition of small for English Language Learners

: something that is sold in a small size : something that is smaller than other things of the same kind

SMALL Defined for Kids

small

adjective \ ˈsmȯl \

Definition of small for Students

smaller; smallest

1 : little in size

a small house

2 : few in numbers or members

a small crowd

3 : little in amount

a small supply

4 : very young

a small child

5 : not very much

small success

6 : unimportant

There are some small details to work out.

7 : operating on a limited scale

small car dealers

8 : very soft and quiet

a small voice

9 : not generous : mean

10 : made up of units of little worth

small change

11 : ¹humble 3, modest

She came from a small beginning.

12 : lowered in pride

After fumbling the ball, I felt pretty small.

13 : being letters that are not capitals

—

smallness

noun

small

noun

Definition of small for Students

: a part smaller and usually narrower than the rest

the small of the back

Learn More about small

See words that rhyme with small Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for small Spanish Central: Translation of small Nglish: Translation of small for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of small for Arabic speakers

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small

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small

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