Definify.com

Definition 2024


a_little

a little

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

Antonyms

Translations

Determiner

a little

  1. a small amount
    A little water has spilled.

Usage notes

  • A little is used only with uncountable nouns.