Small is a very common adjectivea word that describes a noun or pronoun and noun with several meanings. Most often, it meanshas as its meaning or signification not large in size, amount, or number. It can also describe something limited, minor, young, faint, or made to feel unimportant, depending on the contextthe words or situation around something that affect its meaning.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Pronunciation

AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).

Accent: General American English

IPA: /smɔl/

Easy pronunciation: SMAWL (approximate spelling).

Stress: One syllable, stressed on the only syllable.

Primary sense: adjective meaning not big; not much in size or amount.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Small Meaning

not big; not much in size or amount

Part of speech: adjective

Definition: limited in size, amount, or number; not large

Example: They live in a small apartment near the station.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• little — A common substitute for size or amount in everyday English.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Other Meanings of Small

Meaning 2

not extensive or not very large in scope

Part of speech: adjective

Definition: moderate, limited, or on a reduced scale

Example: She runs a small business from home.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• modest — Works well for something limited in scale or amount.
• minor — Fits some limited-scale uses, but not every everyday context.
• small-scale — Used for activities, projects, or operations done on a limited scale.
• pocket-sized — Usually describes something physically tiny; only fits some uses.
• pocket-size — Usually describes something physically tiny; only fits some uses.

Meaning 3

not important or respected

Part of speech: adjective

Definition: low in rank, status, value, or importance

Example: He came from small beginnings and worked hard.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• humble — Works well when the sense is lowly or unpretentious.
• lowly — Works in literary or formal contexts, but sounds old-fashioned.
• low — Can fit status or rank, but is broader and less precise.
• modest — Can work when the idea is unassuming or limited in importance.

Meaning 4

young

Part of speech: adjective

Definition: young or immature, especially about children or animals

Example: The small children were playing in the yard.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• little — A natural synonym for young children or animals.

Meaning 5

quiet and not strong

Part of speech: adjective

Definition: faint or soft, especially about a voice

Example: I heard a small voice from the back of the room.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• little — Can appear in fixed or poetic phrases, but is not a general synonym for faint sound.

Meaning 6

made to feel unimportant

Part of speech: adjective

Definition: made to seem less important, less impressive, or less valuable

Example: Her criticism made me feel small.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• belittled — Matches the sense of being made to feel less important.
• diminished — Works when the meaning is reduced in value or importance.

Meaning 7

small in amount or effect

Part of speech: adjective

Definition: slight, limited, or brief in degree, intensity, or scope

Example: There was only a small chance of rain.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• little — Can fit limited degree or amount, though context matters.

Meaning 8

made of very tiny pieces or drops

Part of speech: adjective

Definition: having fine or very tiny particles

Example: A small misty rain covered the hills.

Meaning 9

the size label 'Small'

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a clothing size for a small person

Example: I usually wear a small.

Meaning 10

the narrow part of the lower back

Part of speech: noun

Definition: the slender part of the back

Example: She rubbed the small of her back after lifting the box.

Meaning 11

focused on what is limited or modest

Definition: done or thought of on a limited scale

Example: Think small and keep the first version simple.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Small Synonyms

Similar Meaning

• little
• modest

moderate or limited in scale

• small-scale
• minor
• pocket-sized
• pocket-size

low in status or importance

• humble
• lowly
• low
• modest

young or immature

• little

faint or soft

• little

made to feel less important

• belittled
• diminished

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Common Mistakes

• Using small as if it always means 'little' in every context. It can also mean limited, minor, young, faint, or unimportant.
• Treating 'small' and 'little' as fully interchangeable. They overlap, but not in every sense or style.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does small mean?

Small usually means not large in size, amount, or number. It can also mean limited, young, faint, or unimportant, depending on the context.

What is a simple synonym for small?

Little is the most common everyday synonym, but it does not work equally well in every sense.

Is small always about size?

No. It can also describe scale, status, age, sound, or how important something seems.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.