few
few Lexical Profile
few Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Amounting to or consisting of a small number; not many, and often emphasizing scarcity when used without an article.
"Few students were able to solve the final calculus problem within the allotted time."
Consisting of a small but sufficient or notable number (typically preceded by "a" or another determiner).
"She packed a few books in her carry-on bag for the long flight."
• pronoun
Not many people or things; only a small number.
"Many applied for the fellowship, but few were selected for the final interview."
A small number of people or things (used with "a").
"I have read most of her novels, though a few are currently out of print."
• noun
A small, select, or minority group of people or things, as distinct from the majority (usually preceded by "the").
"The luxury resort was originally built to cater to the wealthy few."
Word Nuance & Usage
"Few" is used strictly with countable plural nouns (e.g., "few books"), whereas "little" is used with uncountable nouns (e.g., "little water"). Furthermore, "few" without an article emphasizes scarcity or near-absence, while "a few" indicates a small, positive quantity.
• Rhymes for few
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'feawe', descending from Proto-Germanic '*fawaz' and ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root '*peh₂w-' meaning 'small' or 'little', making it a cognate of Latin 'paucus' (whence 'paucity').