a little

Meaning 1: Quantity

A small amount or quantity; not much.

Examples

• She speaks a little French.
• He felt a little tired after the long journey.

Meaning 2: Quantity

A small amount or degree.

Examples

• He's a little taller than his brother.
• I'm a little worried about the exam.

Meaning 3: Quantity

A small amount or number (used before nouns).

Examples

• We have a little time left.
• There's a little milk in the fridge.

Pronunciation: /ə ˈlɪtəl/

How to Use a little

a little bit (collocation)

A small amount or degree; slightly. — "I'm a little bit tired."

a little while (collocation)

A short period of time. — "Let's rest for a little while."

a little more/less (collocation)

A slightly greater/smaller amount or degree. — "Can I have a little more coffee?"

Synonyms of a little

Words with a similar meaning to a little:

• some
• a bit
• slight
• modest

Antonyms of a little

Words with the opposite meaning to a little:

• a lot
• much
• plenty