few

Det

Determiner

×

A word placed before a noun to show which person or thing is meant, or how much or how many.

1. 1.An indefinite, but usually small, number of.

   • I think he's had a few drinks.
   • The few cheapest hotels I could find are the farthest too.
   • Quite a few people (=a significant number) were pleasantly surprised.

2. 2.Not many; a small (in comparison with another number stated or implied) but somewhat indefinite number of.

   • Very few did she have not to go there, did she?
   • I was expecting a big crowd at the party, but very few people (=almost none) turned up.
   • However, the above passage could have been written more efficiently, if Strunkian concision, using the fewest words possible, is understood as the measure of verbal efficiency.

3. 3.Obscuring one to two oktas (eighths) of the sky.

   • Tonight: A few clouds. Increasing cloudiness overnight.

4. 4.(US?) Having a 10 percent chance of measurable precipitation (0.01 inch); used interchangeably with isolated.

   • I need to ask you a few questions.
   • We have just a few more questions.
   • Tom just called me a few minutes ago.

Pron

Pronoun

×

A word that replaces or refers to a noun or noun phrase.

1. 1.Few people, few things.

   • Many are called, but few are chosen.

Overall

Very common· #198

By learning goal

Everyday conversation

Common

General reading & writing

Very common

Academic

Uncommon

Literature

Common

Word family

• fewer