2little adverb
less; least 1 a : in a very small amount or degree
▪ She works very little and sleeps even less. ▪ Please speak as little as possible.
b : hardly at all : not very much
▪ We had little more than we needed. ▪ She cared little (about) what he thought. ▪ His art is little known in this country. ▪ a little-known fact ▪ She little knew what fate had in store for her. = Little did she know what fate had in store for her. 2 : not very often
▪ She travels little. [=she rarely travels]
▪ She works very little and sleeps even less. ▪ Please speak as little as possible.
b : hardly at all : not very much
▪ We had little more than we needed. ▪ She cared little (about) what he thought. ▪ His art is little known in this country. ▪ a little-known fact ▪ She little knew what fate had in store for her. = Little did she know what fate had in store for her.
▪ She travels little. [=she rarely travels]
little by little
: by small steps or amounts : gradually
▪ Little by little, he got better. ▪ The protest gathered strength little by little. ▪ I got to know them little by little.
▪ Little by little, he got better. ▪ The protest gathered strength little by little. ▪ I got to know them little by little.
little more than or little better than
: not much more or better than (something) : only slightly more or better than (something)
▪ They ate little more than ice cream and hot dogs all day.
▪ They ate little more than ice cream and hot dogs all day.
