3little pronoun
: a small amount or quantity
▪ There is little we can do to help. ▪ Little is known about her life. ▪ They say precious little [=they do not say much] about their job. ▪ They understand little of what is going on. ▪ His argument did little to change their minds. [=his argument did not change their minds]
▪ There is little we can do to help. ▪ Little is known about her life. ▪ They say precious little [=they do not say much] about their job. ▪ They understand little of what is going on. ▪ His argument did little to change their minds. [=his argument did not change their minds]
a little 1 : not much but some
▪ I don't want much: I want just a little bit/piece. ▪ There's a little brown sugar in these cookies. ▪ I have a little money, so I may be able to lend you some. ▪ They offered him a little something to drink before dinner. [=they offered him something to drink] ▪ There was more than a little sadness [=there was much sadness] in his voice. 2 : not much but somewhat or slightly
▪ It bothered me a little. ▪ His house is down the street a little further. ▪ His house is down the street a little. = It's a little down the street. ▪ I'm feeling a little better today. ▪ Repairs will begin in a little [=slightly] more than a month. ▪ He was not a little annoyed [=he was very annoyed] at the interruption. ▪ Her vision of the future was more than a little upsetting. [=was very upsetting] 3 : for a brief time
▪ Please stay here with me a little. ▪ We can walk a little and then catch a cab. 4 : a small amount or quantity
▪ There is only a very little at stake here. ▪ They don't understand much but they do understand a little. ▪ There's still some money in the bank, but only a very little. ▪ They understand more than a little of what is going on. [=they understand much of what is going on] ▪ Don't use too much of this. A little goes a long way. [=a small amount will be enough]
▪ I don't want much: I want just a little bit/piece. ▪ There's a little brown sugar in these cookies. ▪ I have a little money, so I may be able to lend you some. ▪ They offered him a little something to drink before dinner. [=they offered him something to drink] ▪ There was more than a little sadness [=there was much sadness] in his voice.
▪ It bothered me a little. ▪ His house is down the street a little further. ▪ His house is down the street a little. = It's a little down the street. ▪ I'm feeling a little better today. ▪ Repairs will begin in a little [=slightly] more than a month. ▪ He was not a little annoyed [=he was very annoyed] at the interruption. ▪ Her vision of the future was more than a little upsetting. [=was very upsetting]
▪ Please stay here with me a little. ▪ We can walk a little and then catch a cab.
▪ There is only a very little at stake here. ▪ They don't understand much but they do understand a little. ▪ There's still some money in the bank, but only a very little. ▪ They understand more than a little of what is going on. [=they understand much of what is going on] ▪ Don't use too much of this. A little goes a long way. [=a small amount will be enough]
a little bit 1 : to some extent : somewhat
▪ This one is a little bit bigger than that one. ▪ It bothered me a little bit. 2 chiefly US : a short time
▪ We talked for a little bit. 3 : a small amount of something
▪ The buffet had a little bit of everything. ▪ We have a little bit of time left. ▪ Oh, I'll have just a little bit, thanks.
▪ This one is a little bit bigger than that one. ▪ It bothered me a little bit.
▪ We talked for a little bit.
▪ The buffet had a little bit of everything. ▪ We have a little bit of time left. ▪ Oh, I'll have just a little bit, thanks.
as little as
— used to suggest that a number or quantity is surprisingly small ▪ I could be back in as little as five days.
little wonder — see 1wonder
