Small in a sentence

Small Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

ˈsmȯl 

1

a

: having comparatively little size or slight dimensions

b

: lowercase

2

a

: minor in influence, power, or rank

b

: operating on a limited scale

3

: lacking in strength

a small voice

4

a

: little or close to zero in an objectively measurable aspect (such as quantity)

b

: made up of few or little units

5

a

: of little consequence : trivial

b

: humble, modest

6

: limited in degree

7

a

: mean, petty

b

: reduced to a humiliating position

smallish

ˈsmȯ-lish 

adjective

smallness

ˈsmȯl-nəs 

noun

small

2 of 3

1

: in or into small pieces

2

: without force or loudness

speak as small as you will—William Shakespeare

3

: in a small manner

small

3 of 3

1

: a part smaller and especially narrower than the remainder

the small of the back

2

a

smalls plural : small-sized products

b

smalls plural, chiefly British : smallclothes

especially : underwear

Synonyms

Adjective

• bantam
• diminutive
• dinky
• dwarfish
• fine
• half-pint
• Lilliputian
• little
• pint-size
• pint-sized
• pocket
• pocket-size
• pocket-sized
• puny
• pygmy
• shrimpy
• slight
• smallish
• subnormal
• toylike
• undersized
• undersize

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Example Sentences

Adjective They live in a small house. a small glass of soda She moved to a smaller town. The toy is small enough to fit in my pocket. This room is a little smaller than that one. The movie was a small success. There are still a few small details we have to deal with. It's only a small mistake. The change had only a small impact on the community. Noun These shirts are all smalls. “What size ice-cream cones do you want?” “We'll take three larges and a small.” See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Garner had a small part in the film as a nurse named Sandra, while Affleck starred as Captain Rafe McCawley, a U. S. Army Corps pilot and one of the love interests of Kate Beckinsale's character. —Lynsey Eidell, Peoplemag, 22 Dec. 2022 The new boundaries no longer include Southwestern College, a small portion of the Eastlake Village area and the Oleander corridor between Main Street and Telegraph Canyon Road. —San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Dec. 2022 Diet is just one small part of a much bigger lifestyle philosophy. —Cristina Montemayor, Men's Health, 21 Dec. 2022 While Bailey’s casting has been widely championed and celebrated (see the viral supercuts of Black girls watching the film’s teaser trailer), a small portion of racist fans have expressed outrage against Disney for casting a Black actor as Ariel. —Zack Sharf, Variety, 20 Dec. 2022 Refining her tour outfits is just one small part of what Roan has been up to lately — the rising indie-pop singer-songwriter saw her hard work pay dividends in 2022. —Stephen Daw, Billboard, 20 Dec. 2022 Chapters opened in big cities and college campuses across the county, thanks in no small part to Coll’s keen sense of public relations and Swiftian wit. —Tom Condon, Hartford Courant, 19 Dec. 2022 Whether Trump will be indicted or convicted is a matter for the US court system, but there is no doubt that his actions are potentially criminal and demand judicial attention, in no small part because of their grave consequences for our democracy. —Jeremi Suri, CNN, 19 Dec. 2022 That figure includes a small portion of people serving short sentences – less than a year – after conviction. —Kaitlin Durbin, cleveland, 18 Dec. 2022

The duo is starting small, performing their procedures at the outpatient surgery facility Endo-Surgical Center of Florida on North Dean Road. —Naseem S. Miller, OrlandoSentinel.com, 13 May 2017

Inmates wear drug dispensers at the small of their back. —Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe. com, 15 June 2022 Jenner went without any accessories except a small over the shoulder black bag. —Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 9 Oct. 2022 Later, a female worker came up behind her and put her hand on the small of Barraza’s back and asked her a question. —Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 20 Sep. 2022 His hand went to the small of my back, tracing the space just above my tailbone. —Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 12 May 2022 Bring the other hand to the small of your back with your palm up, or to the back of your neck with the palm down. —Amanda Loudin, Outside Online, 16 Dec. 2019 All of these are delivered through a pack surgically implanted in the small of the prisoners’ backs. —Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 16 June 2022 In fact, even the big guys are jumping on the small-is-mighty bandwagon. —Paul Brady, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2022 In the sweet black-and-white photo captured by Chris Jackson, Kate could be seen gently placing her hand on the small of her husband's back. —Nicole Briese, PEOPLE.com, 2 June 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'small.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English smal, from Old English smæl; akin to Old High German smal small, Greek mēlon small domestic animal

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of small was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Dictionary Entries Near

SMaj

small

small ad

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

Style

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“Small. ” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/small. Accessed 7 Jan. 2023.

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Kids Definition

small

1 of 3 adjective

ˈsmȯl 

1

: little in size

2

: little in amount

a small supply

3

: not very much : minor

small success

4

: not important

a small matter

5

: operating on a limited scale

small dealers

6

: soft entry 1 sense 1c

a small voice

7

: not generous : mean, petty

a small nature

8

: made up of few or little units

a small crowd

9

: humble entry 1 sense 1, modest

a small beginning

10

: having been humiliated or humbled

felt very small to be caught cheating

smallish

ˈsmȯ-lish 

adjective

smallness

ˈsmȯl-nəs 

noun

small

2 of 3 adverb

1

: in or into small pieces

cut the meat small

2

: in a small manner

most businesses begin small

small

3 of 3 noun

: a part smaller and especially narrower than the rest

the small of the back

More from Merriam-Webster on

Nglish: Translation of small for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of small for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: 25 Dec 2022 - Updated example sentences

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Merriam-Webster unabridged

Small Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary

25 ENTRIES FOUND:

• small (adjective)
• small (noun)
• small–claims court (noun)
• small–minded (adjective)
• small–scale (adjective)
• small–time (adjective)
• small–town (adjective)
• small ad (noun)
• small arms (noun)
• small beer (noun)
• small change (noun)
• small fry (noun)
• small intestine (noun)
• small potatoes (noun)
• small print (noun)
• small screen (noun)
• small talk (noun)
• big (adjective)
• bit (noun)
• fish (noun)
• package (noun)
• part (noun)
• pond (noun)
• wonder (noun)
• world (noun)

¹ small /ˈsmɑːl/ adjective

smaller; smallest

¹ small

/ˈsmɑːl/

adjective

smaller; smallest

Britannica Dictionary definition of SMALL

[also more small; most small]

1 

:

little in size

• They live in a small house.

• a small glass of soda

• She moved to a smaller town.

• The toy is small enough to fit in my pocket.

• He has small hands.

• This room is a little smaller than that one.

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples

2 

:

few in number or little in amount

• a small crowd/group/company/party/school

• a small supply/number

• The movie was a small success.

• There is a small [=slight] chance that they can still win.

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples

— see also small hours at hour

3 

:

not very important

:

minor

• a small matter

• There are still a few small details we have to deal with.

• It's only a small mistake.

• The change had only a small impact on the community.

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples

4 

:

very young

• I loved the playground when I was small.

• a small boy

• They have two small children.

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5 

:

involving or including few people, things, etc.

• She works for a small company.

• small businesses/dealers/investors

• a small advertising campaign

• a small fund-raiser

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples

6 

:

lowercase

• The first letter is a capital, but the rest are small.

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7 

:

very soft and quiet

• a small voice

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8 

:

foolish or ashamed

• He's just trying to make you feel small.

• He felt very small to be caught cheating.

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples

a big fish in a small pond

— see ¹fish

in no small measure

:

to a great degree

:

largely or mostly

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(it's a) small world

— see ¹world

not (in) the smallest bit

— see ¹bit

— smallish

— smallness

² small /ˈsmɑːl/ noun

plural smalls

² small

/ˈsmɑːl/

noun

plural smalls

Britannica Dictionary definition of SMALL

[count]

:

something that is sold in a small size

:

something that is smaller than other things of the same kind

• These shirts are all smalls.

• “What size ice-cream cones do you want?” “We'll take three larges and a small.”

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples

the small of the/your back

:

the lower part of your back that is smaller and narrower than the rest

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples

Sentences with the word "small"

We found 80 sentences with the word "small". Synonyms for small. Meaning of the word. Characters. "small" - morphemic analysis. The meaning of the word is small.

• Saint Francis was small , lean, taut as a string, and swift as an arrow.
• If even the smallest projectile hits here, there will be nothing alive within a hundred yards.
• The local cooks could not understand for a long time why Pugacheva stared at small TV screen and so impatiently waiting for something.
• New Year 1938 was celebrated in the house where Alik, Irina and little Kirochka lived.
• The little wanderer became "toothy" and settled in the hotel "Uzbekistan" in a room "without windows, without doors."
• That was the name of the piece of land where now stood the small house of the Poet.
• And I myself gouged out a small anchor on my arm .
• Small , blond, blue-eyed man.
• A small piece of sargassum floats past me to the north.
• Little man , happy with the right to dispose of yesterday's lord of kings.
• The small circle has little contact with the unknown.
• At the same time, little George Stephenson was enjoying idleness, watching the bouncing lid of the kettle that his mother was boiling.
• Fifteen years later small magic case with matches had its own special epilogue.
• My friend wished me to make you a small present in exchange for the night cap you gave me.
• Looking at her, I understand what I was then small .
• And since I was the smallest in the yard (both in age and height), I ended up in the very tail.
• It went on, despite the small orchestra, small choir, very tolerably. nine0008
• Otherwise, Tanya even seemed nice to me: a small upturned nose , a small mouth .
• Despite this, Pizarro, after a difficult passage through the full-flowing rivers of the Coaque region, raided a small city.
• I also realized that my little nephew joined him in his prayer.
• And streams and a small fountain murmured to the sounds of love inside my house.
• Blood, lots of blood wherever the little black man appears.
• This " little sparrow" with his "wild news" amused the students, and Raisa Bloch was nicknamed the "little sparrow" and "wild messenger".
• Fist, violence and merciless struggle seen from birth little Soso.
• At the same time, they carefully examined a small greenish computer screen filled with rows of numbers.
• But “overgrown with black hair, small pockmarked Georgians” is preparing to go to his first link.
• And in one of the rooms a small pockmarked Georgian fell asleep with an extinct pipe , who would later exterminate all these lucky ones.
• The small detachment turned back, and soon Mademoiselle Petit found herself under the protection of the khan.
• Little man that I care about.
• Little Jean seemed to be the same "senior" as little Montmore.
• But this little Soso cannot understand: all his childhood he was taught to strike back.
• True, by the time I get close to these paths, even the smallest chance may work.
• We set up a small camp and lived happily for several weeks.
• Jorge stood on the podium and heard what people were saying: “He is too small , too small ”. nine0008
• I still remember how they laughed when little Aleksey pretended to be a rabbit and jumped up and down the room.
• In a matter of minutes, my "Solo", a good small ship , turned into a half-sunken wreck.
• Dine at home with your sister, and without delay rent yourself a small office on the fifth floor .
• My little Mozart was so funny in it: a toy man in a powdered wig and a red coat with a sword. nine0008
• The little round-headed Baron Neuhof became the first king of Corsica.
• There is a little devil in the bank, but I, as usual, have no right to tell my parents about it.
• https://sinonim.org/
• At the same concert in the front row a small child burst into tears.
• With the departure of Beso, Keke continues to fulfill his vow: little Soso must become a priest.
• A mosquito buzzes over his ear, small - small .
• The power of a gaze and the fear of a man who does not dare to look away, small Soso remembered forever.
• And it was created when I was still quite " small - small ".
• He simply took the boy to Tiflis and assigned him to Adelkhanov's factory: small Soso helped the workers, waited on the elderly.
• How little sobbed Andrei June 22, 1941.
• With what diligence, with what love the little savage drew flowers and then gave the drawings to his friends.
• The troupe has become a small city on wheels sometimes really very small .
• Especially our Victor, a square little little man with a long twitching nose.
• There is a small foot pump, similar to those used to inflate mattresses, with a long hose connected to the valves. nine0008
• The little bell rings merrily when I close the door.
• I looked around, and he was standing on the shore, such a small - small and desperately waving his hands at me so that I could swim back.
• This is a small boat , it goes from Josefizraelskade, and the carrier immediately transported us as soon as we asked.
• A small town with an old cathedral dozed on a mountain in the setting sun.
• Joe, let's give him a small exam.
• Leaving for a small summer house with two terraces.
• A small frail old man in a general's uniform was sitting at the table and was writing something.
• The small Boer force was still resisting.
• It was the smallest cyclotron in the world, but the results were fantastic.
• Knunyants: “ Little , frail, somehow defective, dressed in a shirt from someone else’s shoulder, on his head a ridiculous Turkish fez.” nine0008
• They say, having heard from his student the question why he was overcome by doubts, Anaximenes drew two circles on the ground: small and large.
• Dordrecht, small , an extremely busy river port in South Holland, one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands.
• Little Rodion Gazmanov, well, quite tiny, button, sang the song "Lucy" in "Meetings" with great success.
• They rented a small cafe, put small apparatus and invited all my musician friends.
• One tattered little boy about ten years old also cracked the whip behind the oxen.
• Later, I received little advice from a sympathetic colleague in my studies.
• The small square of lawn bordered by rose bushes did not seem small to me.
• A small studio bus raced along Nevsky Prospekt, empty at that hour, stuck in the March ice. nine0008
• We beat each other mercilessly, and the little puny Soso was one of the most dexterous fighters.
• He was appointed preacher in Vam, another small town in the coal basin, a few kilometers from Patyuraz.
• Our small ridiculous squad fearlessly rushed into the boundless desert of snow.
• A few days later, when my mother gave us for dinner only a glass of tea without sugar and a small piece of bread for everyone, I decided to go to the market. nine0008
• Yes, I really was a witch's child, a small magician and wizard.
• The next day I was dragged on a stretcher to the Shakhovskaya station: in front of me was a small soldier , and behind me was an old, tall one.
• At the church of Santa Maria in Trastevere boys of different colors are chasing a ball, a small mulatto with a shaved head responds to the nickname "Ronaldo".
• Round pink face, small upturned nose and dark hair in a bun. nine0008
• From childhood little Simon became an obedient shadow of the domineering Soso.
• It is the same small as their own open fishing boats that run along the coast.
• Colonel of the Imperial Regiment brave small Chisholm, rushing forward, received two mortal wounds.