few Meaning & Definition
What Does Few Mean?
As a determiner, few means An indefinite, but usually small, number of. It can also mean Not many; a small (in comparison with another number stated or implied) but somewhat indefinite number of. As a pronoun, it means Few people, few things.
Few: Key Facts
| Part of speech | determiner, pronoun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //fjuː// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | little |
| Antonyms | many |
Few Definition (Determiner)
- An indefinite, but usually small, number of.
There are a few cars (=some, but a relatively small number) in the street.
- Not many; a small (in comparison with another number stated or implied) but somewhat indefinite number of.
Very few did she have not to go there, did she?
- Obscuring one to two oktas (eighths) of the sky.
Tonight: A few clouds. Increasing cloudiness overnight.
- (US?) Having a 10 percent chance of measurable precipitation (0.01 inch); used interchangeably with isolated.
Few as a Pronoun
- Few people, few things.
Many are called, but few are chosen.
Synonyms of Few
Few synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Few
Few in a Sentence
There are a few cars (=some, but a relatively small number) in the street.
Quite a few people (=a significant number) were pleasantly surprised.
I think he's had a few drinks.
The few cheapest hotels I could find are the farthest too.
Very few did she have not to go there, did she?
I was expecting a big crowd at the party, but very few people (=almost none) turned up.
Tonight: A few clouds. Increasing cloudiness overnight.
NOAA definition of the term few clouds: An official sky cover classification for aviation weather observations, descriptive of a sky cover of 1/8 to 2/8. This is applied only when obscuring phenomena aloft are present--that is, not when obscuring phenomena are surface-based, such as fog.
Many are called, but few are chosen.
Word Forms & Grammar
few (comparative fewer or less, superlative fewest or least)
few
Words That Rhyme With Few
Origin of Few
Origin 1: From Middle English fewe, from Old English fēaw (“few”), from Proto-West Germanic *fau, from Proto-Germanic *fawaz (“few”), from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂w- (“few, small”).
Origin 2: Cognate with Old Saxon fā (“few”), Old High German fao, fō (“few, little”), Old Norse fár (“few”), Gothic 𐍆𐌰𐌿𐍃 (faus, “few”). Also related with Latin paucus (“little, few”) and pauper (“poor”), from which latter English poor and pauper; see these.
How Do You Say Few?
You say few as //fjuː//. It has 1 syllable.
Common Questions About Few
Is few a determiner or a pronoun?
Few is mainly used as a determiner, but it can also be used as a pronoun.
What is another word for few?
Words with a similar meaning to few include little. See the full list of few synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of few?
The opposite of few is many.