1 : not many people or things
(Very) Few came.
His stories may be entertaining, but few (if any) are true. = They may be entertaining, but few (if any) of his stories are true.
There are many students in the class, but I know very few (of them).
“Never…was so much owed by so many to so few.” Sir Winston Churchill, Speech (August, 1940)
2 : some people or things — used in the phrase a few
A few came.
I bought several magazines and I read a few (of them).
Unfortunately, a few of the people who came failed to enjoy themselves.
◊ The phrases quite a few and, less commonly, not a few or (chiefly Brit) a good few all mean “fairly many.”
Not all our students go on to college, but quite a few (of them) do. [=a large number of our students do]
3 : a small number of people or things that are chosen or regarded as special or unusual in some way
A select few will receive advance tickets.
A sophisticated movie like this only appeals to the discriminating few.
have a few informal or have a few too many
: to have too many alcoholic drinks
We could tell from his slurred speech that he'd had a few.
It looks like she had a few too many.