small
/smɔːl/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Of little size, amount, or degree. Use it for something not big, not much, or not important in scale.
- She lives in a small flat.
- We have a small problem to solve.
- Add a small amount of salt.
Adinary Nuance
Small is the most general word for little size or amount. It is softer and more everyday than tiny, which stresses very little size. It is also less informal than little in some phrases, and less exact than minor when you mean unimportant or not serious.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- nhỏ
- Spanish
- pequeño
- Chinese
- 小的
- Japanese
- 小さい
- Korean
- 작은
Etymology
Small comes from Old English smæl, meaning 'narrow' or 'slender'. Over time, it widened to mean 'little in size or amount'.
Common phrases
small amountsmall businesssmall sizesmall change
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is small more formal than little?
- Small is more neutral. Little is often more conversational and can sound more personal.
- What is the difference between small and tiny?
- Small means not large. Tiny means extremely small.
- Can small mean 'not important'?
- Yes. It can describe a problem, risk, or detail that is not serious.