Few - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Few means a small number of something, more than one but not many. It is often used to emphasize scarcity or limitation, as in She has few friends.
Definition:
A small number of something, not many.
Synonyms:
scarce, limited, handful, sparse
Part of Speech:
determiner, pronoun, adjective
Antonyms:
many, numerous
Common Collocations:
few people, few days, few words, few options
Derivatives:
fewer, fewest
Usage Tips:
Use "few" with countable nouns to emphasize a small quantity (e.g., "few books"). Avoid confusion with "a few," which is more positive.
Common Phrases:
few and far between, a man of few words, in a few words
Etymology:
From Old English *fēawe*, meaning "not many," related to Old High German *fao*.
Examples:
- 1. She has few friends at school.
- 2. Few students finished the test early.
- 3. We have few apples left in the basket.
- 4. He spoke few words during the meeting.