Small I Smaller Smɔːl Smallest Hours Number Large

• a small town/village/community
• a much smaller number of students passed than i had expected.
• a small amount/percentage/sample
• a small group/minority

small

1. not large in size, number, degree, amount, etc.
• a small town/village/community
• A much smaller number of students passed than I had expected.
• a small amount/percentage/sample
• a small group/minority
• Because of the small size of the sample, findings cannot be generalized.
• They're having a relatively small wedding.
• That dress is too small for you.
• The cheeses are produced locally and only on a small scale.
• a small part/piece/portion
• a small area/country/island
• a small house/room/car
• small animals
• a small man
• The world seems so small now.
• With just under 600 residents, it was small for a city.
• ‘I don't agree,’ he said in a small (= quiet) voice.

Extra Examples

• Choose plants that will stay small.
• My coat was rather small for Bob.
• Technology has made the world smaller.
• The kite grew smaller and smaller and finally disappeared altogether.
• Add a small amount of liquid to the mixture.
• He has incredibly small handwriting.
• He would try anything to make her even the smallest degree happier.
• She comes from a small town in the Mid-West.
• The candidate with the smallest number of votes has to stand down.
• Their apartment's pretty small.
• These shoes are too big. Do you have some in a smaller size?
• You can grow a stunning display of flowers even in the smallest garden.
• The house would be small for a family of your size.
• The text files are comparatively small in size.
• He is small for his age.
2. used to describe one size in a range of sizes of clothes, food, products used in the house, etc.
• The T-shirts come in small, medium and large.
• This is too big—have you got a small one?
3. not as big as something else of the same kind
• the small intestine
4. young
• They have three small children.
• We travelled around a lot when I was small.
• As a small boy he had spent most of his time with his grandparents.
5. slight; not important
• I made only a few small changes to the report.
• She noticed several small errors in his work.
• Everything had been planned down to the smallest detail.
• It was no small achievement getting her to agree to the deal.
• Don’t worry. It’s only a small problem.
• Can I ask you a small favour?
6. not doing business on a very large scale
• small companies/firms
• The government is planning to give more help to small businesses.
• a small farmer
• small investors
• Employers, large and small, face massive fines.
7. not written or printed as capitals
• Should I write ‘god’ with a small ‘g’ or a capital?
• She's a socialist with a small ‘s’ (= she has socialist ideas but is not a member of a socialist party).
8. little; not much
• The government has small cause for optimism.
• They have small hope of succeeding.
9. to be happy that a situation that is bad is not as bad as it could have been
• Well, at least you weren't hurt. I suppose we should be grateful for small mercies.
10. an important person (in a small community)
11. used to tell somebody not to worry about small details or things that are not important
12. of all sizes or types
• all creatures great and small
13. on a large/small scale
• The new delivery service has taken off in a big way.
• Many people are investing in a small way in the stock market.
• He then started spending money in a big way.
14. used to express your surprise when you meet somebody you know in an unexpected place, or when you are talking to somebody and find out that you both know the same person
15. to look or feel stupid, weak, ashamed, etc.
• There’s no need to make me look small in front of all these people.
• I felt really small when I realized how much time he’d spent on it.
16. it is not surprising
• It is little wonder (that) she was so upset.
• No wonder you're tired—you've been walking for hours.
• No wonder you're still single—you never go out!
17. the period of time very early in the morning, soon after midnight
• We worked well into the small hours.
• The fighting began in the early hours of Saturday morning.
• The party continued well into the early hours.
18. it is not surprising
• It is small wonder (that) she was so upset.
• No wonder you're tired—you've been walking for hours.
19. the voice of God or your conscience, that tells you to do what is morally right

Word Origin

• Old English smæl, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch smal and German schmal.