few

few · determiner

imported

Definitions

determiner

  1. 1.

    A small number of.

  2. 2.

    (With "a") Some but not many.

  3. 3.

    A small number of people or things.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    a few — A small number (positive sense).
  • •
    few and far between — Rare; uncommon.
  • •
    quite a few — A fairly large number.
  • •
    the few — A small, select group.
  • •
    no fewer than — At least (emphasizing a large number).
  • •
    in a few words — Briefly.

Related words

Antonyms: many, numerous
See also: little, many, several, some
Synonyms: a handful of, a small number of, not many

Etymology

From Old English fēawa ("few"), from Proto-Germanic fawaz.