1
a
: having comparatively little size or slight dimensions
b
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
6
: limited in degree
1
: in or into small pieces
2
: without force or loudness
speak as small as you will—
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare3
: in a small manner
1
: a part smaller and especially narrower than the remainder
the small of the back
2
a
smalls plural
: small-sized products
b
Synonyms
Examples of small in a Sentence
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.”
Recent Examples on the Web
Bryan Barcena, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2025
In the first hours of 2025, people gathered to celebrate, as fireworks crackled in cities large and small.
—Natasha Frost, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2025
Naseem S. Miller, OrlandoSentinel.com, 13 May 2017
Naomi Elizée, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2024
Schar and Duran had stretched for a loose ball and the Newcastle centre-half had slid in to win it, with Duran first catching him on the buttock and then in the small of the back.
—George Caulkin, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for small 
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Adjective
In spreading its funding across multiple institutions, PST allows those that are much smaller in scale and capacity than MoCA to also participate in these vital kinds of research, enabling curators to encounter the region’s artists and artworks firsthand.
—Bryan Barcena, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2025
In the first hours of 2025, people gathered to celebrate, as fireworks crackled in cities large and small.
—Natasha Frost, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2025
Adverb
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
Noun
Balenciaga Bel Air small carry all bag $4,200 BALENCIAGA
Balenciaga
Bel Air medium carry all bag
$5,300
BALENCIAGA
Color Coded
Go bold or go home!
—Naomi Elizée, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2024
Schar and Duran had stretched for a loose ball and the Newcastle centre-half had slid in to win it, with Duran first catching him on the buttock and then in the small of the back.
—George Caulkin, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for small
Dictionary Entries Near small
Cite this Entry
“Small.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/small. Accessed 7 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
small
1 of 3 adjective1
: 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
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
small
2 of 3 adverb1
: 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
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