Quick Definition · adjective
Small means little in size, number, or amount; not large or important. It describes something that is below average or limited in extent, degree, or significance — the opposite of large or big.
Etymology
Small descends from Old English smæl, meaning narrow or slender, which is related to Old High German smal and Old Norse smár. The original sense of physically narrow gradually broadened over the medieval period to encompass the general meaning of little in size that the word carries today. The word has been in unbroken use in English for over a thousand years, making it one of the oldest and most stable adjectives in the language.
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Level & note |
|---|---|
| She runs a small business selling handmade jewellery. | A2 — basic attributive use |
| Could I have a small coffee, please? | A2 — describing quantity / size option |
| There is only a small chance of rain tomorrow, so we should be fine. | B1 — expressing limited probability |
| The committee identified a small but significant flaw in the proposal. | B2 — contrasting degree in formal writing |
| Despite the small print in the contract, the clause had major financial implications for both parties. | C1 — idiomatic collocation in legal/professional context |
Common Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning / example |
|---|---|
| small talk | Polite conversation about unimportant topics — We made small talk while waiting for the meeting to start. |
| small business | A company with few employees or limited revenue — She set up a small business from home. |
| small print | The detailed conditions in a contract, often in tiny type — Always read the small print before signing. |
| small change | Coins of low value; also used figuratively for a trivial amount — He emptied his pockets and found only small change. |
| small hours | The early hours after midnight — They were still dancing in the small hours of the morning. |
| small fortune | A surprisingly large sum of money (ironic) — Those trainers cost a small fortune. |
| small screen | Television, as opposed to the cinema — The novel was adapted for the small screen. |
| small step | A modest but meaningful action — Recycling is a small step towards reducing waste. |
| small percentage | A minor proportion — Only a small percentage of applicants were invited to interview. |
| small world | Used to express surprise at an unexpected connection — "You know her too? Small world!" |
Usage Notes
How to Use Small Correctly
- Attributive and predicative. Small can appear before a noun (a small room) or after a linking verb (The room is small). Both positions are equally natural.
- Small vs. little. Small is neutral and factual; little often adds emotional colouring — affection, pity, or dismissiveness. Prefer small in formal writing.
- Small vs. slight. When referring to degree rather than physical size, slight is often more precise: a slight improvement rather than a small improvement, though both are acceptable.
- Intensifiers. You can strengthen small with adverbs: very small, remarkably small, relatively small. Do not use much small — use much smaller (comparative).
- Fixed phrases. Several collocations with small have idiomatic meanings that differ from the literal sum of their parts: small print, small talk, and small hours must be learnt as fixed expressions.
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
This flat is more small than yours.
This flat is smaller than yours. (one-syllable adjectives use -er, not more)
She spoke in a very small voice — she was very small. (ambiguous repetition)
She spoke in a very quiet voice — she is quite short. (use precise synonyms to avoid ambiguity)
We had small talks over coffee.
We had some small talk over coffee. (small talk is uncountable — no plural)
Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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Frequently Asked Questions about “small”
What does small mean in English?
Small means little in size, number, or amount — the opposite of large or big. It can describe physical objects ('a small house'), quantities ('a small amount of money'), degrees of importance ('a small problem'), and even social groups ('a small business'). It is one of the most common adjectives in English.
What is the difference between small and little?
Both small and little mean not large, but they are used differently. Small is purely descriptive and neutral: 'a small flat', 'a small mistake'. Little often carries an emotional tone — affection, sympathy, or dismissiveness: 'the little cat', 'poor little thing'. Little is also used in set phrases such as 'a little bit' or 'little by little'.
What are common collocations with small?
Common collocations include: small business, small talk, small print, small change, small hours, small screen, small fortune, small world, small step, and small percentage. In everyday speech you will also hear 'small minded', 'small town', and 'small scale'.
What is the opposite of small?
The direct opposite of small is large or big. Other antonyms include great, enormous, vast, huge, immense, and substantial, each with slightly different connotations. Tall and wide are opposites in specific dimensions, and significant or important are opposites when small refers to importance rather than size.
What is small talk?
Small talk refers to polite, light conversation about unimportant topics — the weather, weekend plans, local news — used to build social ease rather than exchange important information. It is an important social skill in British and American culture, especially in professional settings. The adjective small here means of little consequence.
What is the comparative and superlative of small?
The comparative form is smaller and the superlative is smallest. These follow the regular pattern for one-syllable adjectives. Example: 'This flat is smaller than mine.' / 'This is the smallest room in the house.' You do not say 'more small' — that is a common ESL error.
Can small describe abstract things?
Yes. Small is used for abstract nouns as well as concrete ones. You can have a small chance, a small improvement, a small problem, or a small difference. In these cases small means slight, minor, or limited in degree rather than referring to physical size.
What is the origin of the word small?
Small comes from Old English 'smæl', meaning narrow or slender, related to Old High German 'smal' and Old Norse 'smár'. Over time the meaning broadened from narrow to little in size generally. The word has been in continuous use for over a thousand years and remains one of the most frequent adjectives in Modern English.
What is the difference between small and tiny?
Small simply means not large. Tiny means extremely small — much smaller than expected or normal. Tiny carries an extra degree of emphasis: 'a small room' is unremarkable, but 'a tiny room' emphasises that it is unusually small. Tiny is informal and often emotional; small is neutral and suits all registers.
How can I practise using small in English?
Try LexFizz's Flash Cards to review small and related adjectives, or use the Complete the Sentence exercise to practise collocations such as small talk, small print, and small business in context. Reading news articles and noting how small is used alongside different nouns is also an effective vocabulary-building habit.