few
determiner, adjective, pronoun
UKfjuːUSfjuː
Not many; a small number of something or people.
Example Sentences
Only a few seats were still available at the concert.
She has so few close friends that she values them greatly.
Could you give me a few minutes to finish this task?
A few mistakes in the report can be fixed with a quick edit.
He mentioned that there were a few changes to the schedule.
Despite his extensive travels, there are still a few countries he hasn’t visited yet.
Researchers discovered that few people actually followed through on their grand promises, underscoring the gap between intentions and real-world actions.
After the long and grueling hike, only a few hikers reached the summit before nightfall, demonstrating both the difficulty of the trail and the resilience of the climbers.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
Antonyms
How to Use
Indicates a small, limited count of something.“Few” is typically used as a quantifier or determiner to show that only a small number of objects, individuals, or occurrences are being referenced. For example, you might say, “I have a few friends coming over,” to suggest that the number of guests is small, but not zero. In instructions, you might direct someone to “take a few steps back” or “add a few tablespoons of sugar,” indicating a quantity that is modest but not strictly defined. Unlike “several” or “many,” which imply more substantial amounts, “few” underscores the scarcity or limited nature of a group or set. If you want to compare small quantities, you can use the comparative and superlative forms—“fewer” and “fewest”—as in “We have fewer options than expected” or “This is the fewest mistakes we’ve seen so far.” When writing or speaking, “few” helps shape a precise impression about whether you’re dealing with a tiny subset or an almost negligible portion. Keep in mind the subtle difference between “few” and “a few”: “few” often conveys a sense of insufficiency or disappointment (“few solutions exist”), while “a few” is more neutral or mildly positive (“a few solutions come to mind”). Context and tone determine the emotional impact “few” can have on an audience, from expressing relief in minimal tasks to highlighting a lack or shortage in a concerning situation.
Alternatives
To avoid overusing “few,” you can opt for phrases like “a small number,” “not many,” or “a handful.” “A small number” works well in both formal and informal contexts: “We received only a small number of submissions this year.” “Not many” can sound more casual: “Not many people showed up to the movie night.” Meanwhile, “a handful” suggests something you can easily count or hold, as in, “We’ve had only a handful of volunteers register.” If you need a synonym that sounds more formal or research-oriented, try “a limited amount/quantity,” signaling constraint without going into numerical details. Each alternative nuances your statement by indicating how small or constrained the set is—“a handful” invokes a more tangible image, while “not many” conveys a slightly negative undertone of shortage. By carefully selecting which phrase you use, you’ll maintain variety in your text and fine-tune the impression of scarcity or mild abundance. This flexibility ensures that readers or listeners grasp precisely how restricted or modest the scale of something really is, whether you’re describing participants in a study, items on a shelf, or any other set of limited scope.
Writing
When using “few” in writing, be mindful of how it shapes your audience’s perception of quantity. If you say “There are few reliable sources,” it can sound like an undesirable shortage of information. However, changing it to “There are a few reliable sources” frames the same quantity as modest but sufficient. In academic or technical contexts, detail can matter: “Only a few data points matched our criteria” might prompt readers to question the robustness of your research. Conversely, more informal or narrative writing can leverage “few” to set a tone or mood—“He shared a few memories from his travels,” adds a personal, anecdotal feel. If the precise number is critical, consider stating the actual figure or range along with “few”—“Only three out of fifty samples qualified, a few more than last year’s results.” Such specificity refines the picture you present, boosting clarity and credibility. Also, watch for overuse of “few” in dense paragraphs; mixing in synonyms like “limited,” “minor,” or “scant” keeps your prose varied and engaging. By blending “few” with the right level of context, you establish both the approximate quantity involved and whether that amount is helpful, disappointing, or noteworthy in your narrative or argument. This careful usage helps readers interpret the significance of small numbers, ensuring your text remains clear, consistent, and nuanced.
Casual Conversation
In everyday conversation, “few” commonly pops up when we want to show that something is in short supply, but not absent. You might say, “I have a few errands to run,” hinting you won’t be too busy, or “It’ll be a few minutes,” letting someone know they won’t have to wait long. When describing social plans, “just a few friends” can keep the vibe laid-back, suggesting an intimate gathering rather than a huge party. If you say you only got a few hours of sleep, it sounds like you didn’t get as much rest as you’d like, but you managed some shut-eye. Pay attention to how the tone shifts between “few” and “a few.” For instance, “few opportunities arose” implies a slight disappointment, while “a few opportunities arose” feels more optimistic, even though the actual count might be the same. Informal speech also features related expressions like “a few more,” “a couple,” or “not many” to tweak the sense of quantity. The casual difference is mostly about how laid-back or urgent you want to sound—“a couple of minutes” might be even less formal than “a few minutes.” By combining “few” with everyday contexts, you keep conversations flowing naturally, letting others gauge whether something is scarce, lightly occupied, or modestly sufficient in your personal or social life. Feeling out how “few” lands can guide your tone—slightly apologetic, neutral, or reassuring—depending on the situation. In short, “few” helps shape the idea that there’s a limited but tangible amount of whatever you’re talking about, whether it’s free time, tasks, or people at a hangout.
Etymology
Derived from Old English “fēawe,” “few” has Germanic roots that point to a small or limited number. Over centuries, it retained its essential meaning while English evolved through various influences like Old Norse and Latin borrowings. Early forms of “few” appeared in texts discussing scarce resources, sparse populations, or limited supplies, emphasizing a notable gap between what might be desired and what actually existed. In Middle English, “fēwe” and its variants were used similarly to modern usage, expressing a small count of people or things. Later, as English became standardized, “few” anchored itself as a core quantifier for nominal amounts or modest totals. The distinction between the bare “few” (implying a possible shortfall) and “a few” (implying a small but sufficient number) also developed, reflecting subtle shifts in how speakers convey positivity or negativity around limited quantities. Today, “few” remains integral to daily discourse, signposting limitation, modesty, or brevity—an enduring linguistic marker of something that might be inadequate or, at best, just enough to notice.