English

Adverb

a little ‎(not comparable)

1. To a small extent or degree.

   The door was opened a little.‎

   • 1879, Richard Jefferies, The Amateur Poacher, chapterII:

     Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded it got to the bury, and, struggling in, the arrow caught the side of the hole and was drawn out. Indeed, a nail filed sharp is not of much avail as an arrowhead; you must have it barbed, and that was a little beyond our skill.

   • 1914, Louis Joseph Vance, Nobody, chapter III:

     Turning back, then, toward the basement staircase, she began to grope her way through blinding darkness, but had taken only a few uncertain steps when, of a sudden, she stopped short and for a little stood like a stricken thing, quite motionless save that she quaked to her very marrow in the grasp of a great and enervating fear.

Synonyms

• a bit
• a little bit
• skosh

Antonyms

• a lot

Translations

Determiner

a little

1. a small amount

   A little water has spilled.

Usage notes

• A little is used only with uncountable nouns.