Few
/fjuː/
Definitions
2 meaningsNot many; a small number of.
/fjuː/
A small number of something.
Few people understand the complexities of the situation.
💡 Simply: Imagine you have a handful of cookies, not a whole plate. 'Few' means there's only a small amount of something. For example, "I have few toys, but I love them all!"
👶 For kids: Not many. Like when you have only a few toys, or a few friends.
More Examples
I have few regrets about my decisions.
She made a few mistakes during the exam.
How It's Used
"Few people attended the event."
"He had few friends in his new city."
A small number of people or things; not many.
/fjuː/
A small number of people or things.
Few of the students passed the test.
💡 Simply: Instead of saying 'a few people' you can also say 'few'. For example, "Few of us knew about the surprise party!"
👶 For kids: Not many people or things. Like when you say, "Few of the kids wanted to play outside."
More Examples
We invited many, but few came.
Few are chosen.
How It's Used
"Few of them understood the instructions."
"I know a few who would like to go."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
a few and far between
Not frequent; rare.
"Opportunities for advancement are few and far between in this company."
in a few words
Briefly; concisely.
"In a few words, the project was a failure."
From Old English *feawa* meaning 'small in number'. Related to the word 'feeble'.
Used since Old English, with its core meaning remaining relatively unchanged over time.
Memory tip
Think of a handful of something—that's a few.
Word Origin
"small in number"