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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.

few

/**fu**/ /**fjuː**/

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.

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