few - definition of few in English from the Oxford dictionary
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Definition of few in English:

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few

 Top 1000 frequently used words
Pronunciation: /fjuː/

determiner / adjective

1(a few) a small number of: [as determiner] : may I ask a few questions?
More example sentences
  • Now returned to her, we hoped it would help answer a few questions about the old boy.
  • Well buy a few of them and stick your chocolate in that, it won't get warmer or go dead cold.
  • Not as simple or elegant as the original, but a few of the additions are pretty good.
  • These are just a few of the instances that I can remember of being let down by the council.
  • Many have attended rehearsal classes five nights a week and a few of them seven days a week.
  • Otherwise, leave a few of the old plants in if there is space and let them set seed.
  • I will be based near a few of the training camps and hope to see what the England boys are doing.
  • If we'd beaten them in a few of those finals people would be saying the exact opposite.
  • As so often with these affairs the pace was furious enough to scare a few of the veterans on show.
  • So we asked a few of them for half a dozen innovations in retail that are getting them excited.
  • There are a few of the lads I used to play with who are now in the first team like Bryan Stewart.
  • I spoke to a few of the lads that I knew at Dewsbury and they encouraged me to come down.
  • Place the warm fennel on the plate and arrange the fish on top with a few of the cucumber pieces.
  • We came up with a few of those by copying and exaggerating things that we and our friends got up to!
  • So, a few of us who would like to keep it going have decided to take it upon ourselves to start it up anew.
  • These are a few of the facts known at the time, you now have to decide, war or no war.
  • What happened was I thought that a few of the posts on my blog were in a different font.
  • The reason for my letter is to ask if I and a few of my fellow fliers are the only ones to object?
  • After the last day in the office on the Friday a few of us went out for beers in Aoyama.
  • She also asked him a few more questions until we were certain he was my twin brother.
Synonyms
not many, hardly any, scarcely any;
a small number of, a small amount of, a small quantity of, one or two, a handful of, a sprinkling of;
little
informal a couple of
2used to emphasize how small a number is: [as determiner] : he had few friends [as adjective] : sewing was one of her few pleasures comforts here are few [comparative] : a population of fewer than two million [superlative] : ask which products have the fewest complaints
More example sentences
  • Sport is full of unusual people of high ability, but very few of them are film stars.
  • His education, he told me, was unlikely to get him a decent job and he had few friends.
  • Try to be nice about it though and offer them a can of beer or you will make few friends.
  • Jeff and I were one of the few friends that were lucky to get lockers next to each other.
  • It is one of the few abbeys to have survived to the present day as a parish church.
  • In fact it is a great place to take kids of all ages - relaxing and with few long queues.
  • If we lose or draw, then I wouldn't see us being able to make up that ground in so few games.
  • This time there are three too many who do not watch them and three too few who do.
  • It's a sorry thing to say, but very few objects in my home give me a pure aesthetic thrill.
  • These parties may win many of their votes on the race issue, but they win very few votes.
  • The few people who do go shooting on this land only get what is needed for the pot.
  • There were no airs and very few graces, just a good eye and an uncomplicated swing at the ball.
  • There are few people in this world who deserve any or all of the adulation they receive.
  • He also spared few people his assurances that just about no one was as powerful as he was.
  • It is one of Cumbria's few evergreen flora of the fells and can be seen all year round.
  • There were so many of them and so few tables that some of them were forced to share.
  • It needs to have a mass appeal so it stays firmly in the mainstream and takes few risks.
  • The Thals are one of the very few powers in this world able to make me root for the Daleks.
  • Hall is one of those who left the pit, with few regrets, as soon as he was paid to do so.
  • There are very few close ups and at times its hard to tell whose doing what to whom and why.
Synonyms
not many, hardly any, scarcely any;
a small number of, a small amount of, a small quantity of, one or two, a handful of, a sprinkling of;
little
informal a couple of
scarce, scant, scanty, meagre, insufficient, negligible, in short supply;
thin on the ground, scattered, seldom met with, few and far between, infrequent, uncommon, rare, sporadic

pronoun

1(a few) a small number of people or things: I will recount a few of the stories told me there are hundreds of applicants but only a few are selected many believe it but only a few are prepared to say so
Synonyms
a small number, a handful, a sprinkling, one or two, a couple, two or three;
not many, hardly any
2used to emphasize how small a number of people or things is: few thought to challenge these assumptions he was one of the few who survived very few of the titles have any literary merit

plural noun

(the few)
1the minority of people; the elect: art is not just for the few a world that increasingly belongs to the few
More example sentences
  • We should concentrate on peace and health for all before we embark on glory for the few.
  • Emancipation is not a right that can be curtailed in favour of the interests of the few.
  • The world belongs to the few, not to the many, and least of all to all.
  • Richard Douthwaite is the author of The Growth Illusion: How Economic Growth Enriched the Few, Impoverished the Many and Endangered the Planet.
  • They believe they are, as stressed by a famous advertisement recruiting campaign, ‘The Few, The Proud’.
  • This little gem is entitled The Many Not The Few, and is a paen to socialist ideals.
  • He has written 17 books, including: Democracy for the Few, Dirty Truths, Against Empire, and The Terrorism Trap.
  • The Few, The Proud - a Norfolk Marine tells the story of a rooftop fight in Iraq.
  • What it did do, spectacularly, was showcase how the loudest and best-connected Few can dictate customs to the Many.
  • Do you believe in the Welfare of the Community or the Welfare of the Few.
1.1(the Few) British English the RAF pilots who took part in the Battle of Britain.
alluding to a speech of Sir Winston Churchill (20 August, 1940)
Example sentences
  • We all know that the Royal Air Force, the Few, won the Battle of Britain in 1940 to prevent a Nazi invasion.
  • Yes, and I'm sure the Few fought the Battle of Britain so that chinless little Nazis could fight elections in this country.
  • He read The Few: Summer 1940, the Battle of Britain by Philip Kaplan and Richard Collier.
  • The only sad part is that The Few are becoming fewer every year, and it won't be the same when they're gone.
  • More than 20,000 Spitfires were built but the aircraft that carried The Few are now sadly few themselves.
  • The Few, as Churchill dubbed the Fighter Command aircrew, were not the free-spirited, knights of the air, officer types immortalised by the media.
  • It was great to see the unveiling of the Battle Of Britain memorial in London as a tribute to The Few, to whom we undoubtedly owe a profound debt for their sacrifice and bravery 65 years ago.
  • He was well known for his part in Gone with the Wind and had just starred with David Niven in The First of the Few, the story of the Spitfire.
  • The 60th anniversary of the defining air battle of the Second World War will see people gathering across North and East Yorkshire to remember the Few.
  • In common with ceremonies across the land, the Last Post and Reveille rang out as the Few were remembered and honoured.
  • It's called The Few and it takes place in The Battle of Britain.

Usage

Fewer versus less: strictly speaking, the rule is that fewer, the comparative form of few, is used with words denoting people or countable things (‘fewer members’; ‘fewer books’). Less, on the other hand, is used with mass nouns, denoting things which cannot be counted (‘less money’; ‘less bother’). It is regarded as incorrect in standard English to use less with count nouns, as in ‘less people’ or ‘less words’, although this is one of the most widespread errors made by native speakers. It is not so obvious which word should be used with than. Less is normally used with numerals (‘a score of less than 100’) and with expressions of measurement or time (‘less than two weeks’; ‘less than four miles away’), but fewer is used if the things denoted by the number are seen as individual items or units (‘there were fewer than ten contestants’)

Phrases

1

as few as

used to show surprise at how small a number of people or things is: a club with as few as 20 members
2

every few

once in every small group of (typically units of time): she visits every few weeks
More example sentences
  • But forty or so of you who visit at least once every few days think I'm doing something right.
  • With a bulk shop online once every few weeks you can top up on all basic foodstuffs and household items.
  • The emphasis was moving away from local struggles to big protests once every few months.
  • Marlborough, being an old coaching stop-over town, once boasted a pub every few steps.
  • And it has to be said that this particular topic has a habit of coming around at least once every few years.
  • Decant the mixture into a spray bottle and spray once every few days on your garden.
  • You've got to understand that he and I only talk once every few months on the phone.
  • She also hopes to visit Britain every few months to attend council meetings.
  • The mobile phone keeps ringing every few minutes and messages have her grinning widely.
  • As I sat down at my desk, I couldn't stop running my hands through my hair and flicking it every few seconds.
3

few and far between

scarce; infrequent: my inspired moments are few and far between
More example sentences
  • In a world befogged by superficiality, moments of clarity are few and far between.
  • Television ads are few and far between; the yard signs and badges are more scarce.
  • Make it easy on yourself - enjoy the magic moments in life - they are too few and far between.
  • There are moments of genuine wit, but they are too few and far between to make a noticeable difference.
  • Realistically, however, at his age opportunities to make blockbusters are few and far between.
  • But the cases where physical evidence exists to prove their innocence are few and far between.
  • Benefits from privatisation/fragmentation have been few and far between but this is one of them.
  • Raises to Bahamians will be few and far between, and they will try to extract the most out of the workers.
  • Details remain few and far between, and as yet no background studies have been prepared.
  • The chance of people learning by experience gets less and less as the jobs become few and far between.
Synonyms
scarce, scant, scanty, meagre, insufficient, negligible, in short supply;
thin on the ground, scattered, seldom met with, few and far between, infrequent, uncommon, rare, sporadic
4

a good few

British English a fairly large number of: we sat there for a good few minutes
More example sentences
  • While a good few of those ten happened on more than a one-off occasion, one every twelve months does seem rather spartan.
  • I'm not ready for the full team but that makes me no different to a good few of the younger strikers who have been making the squads.
  • Naturally a good few of the questions are rather risqué, which made for some interesting moments.
  • After a good few more video sessions, we know about the French strengths and possible weaknesses.
  • His collection of old York images numbers 2,500, and a good few of those show the tramway.
  • He knew Loiseau personally, has met many of the great chefs and has put a good few of their meals under his belt.
  • Three of these heads of state and a good few of the ordinary victims perished after 1899.
  • The possibilities are endless and the film manages to explore a good few of them.
  • At 28 MacLean is right to consider that he has a good few years left in him.
  • One group of four people were actually observed to sit down for a good few minutes and read all of them in-depth.
Synonyms
an amount, a number, a good number/few, a lot, a large amount, (a) good/great deal;
quite a number, scores, many, considerable amounts, plenty;
several, numerous, countless, innumerable, ample, copious, abundant, plentiful, considerable, substantial
informal a pile, piles, oodles, tons, lots, loads, heaps, masses, stacks, scads, bags, more … than one can shake a stick at
informal British  lashings, a shedload, shedloads
informal North American  gobs
vulgar slang a shitload
5

have a few

informal drink enough alcohol to be slightly drunk.
Example sentences
  • Puff has no more effect on you than alcohol and certainly does not turn you violent when you have had a few like booze.
  • He's a laugh, just a bit moody when he's had a few.
  • Oh well, no harm done, he's a happy loving guy when he's had a few.
  • The most worrying thing is, I've had quite a few and my spelling is still impekabel.
Synonyms
drink alcohol, take alcohol, tipple, indulge;
be a serious/heavy/hard drinker, be an alcoholic, binge-drink;
carouse, go drinking, predrink
informal take a drop, hit the bottle, take to the bottle, booze, knock a few back, have a few, have one over the eight, tank up, get tanked up, drink like a fish, go on a binge/bender
informal British  bevvy
informal North American  bend one's elbow, lush
informal Australian , New Zealand  grog up
archaic wassail, tope
6

no fewer than

used to emphasize a surprisingly large number: there are no fewer than seventy different brand names
More example sentences
  • Built by car manufacturer Ford, the car, worth half a million pounds, was surrounded by no fewer than four security guards.
  • Eventually, he was supplying designs to no fewer than 50 manufacturers.
  • In North America, when a C-section is performed, no fewer than four doctors are present in the room.
  • In Afghanistan, no fewer than three such operations were mounted.
  • The 33 individuals identified by Scotland on Sunday between them share no fewer than 69 posts.
  • Although they got no further than the foothills, Patricia and Peter found no fewer than three new species of rhododendron.
  • And I've just discovered that next March contains no fewer than five Mondays.
  • Over the period it has topped the yearly sales charts no fewer than 11 times.
  • Club action returns this week with no fewer than five teams in action.
  • In fact, there should have been no fewer than four Leevale runners on the team for Sunday's long course race.
7

not a few

a considerable number: virtually every soul star, and not a few blues singers, learned to sing in church
More example sentences
  • I must now take responsibility for enraging my party leader, alienating the people of a great city, and incurring the anger of not a few of The Spectator's readers.
  • If rakhi day brings happiness to many men in town, it also brings disappointment to not a few, especially on the city's campuses.
  • John knew every haulage owner and driver as well as registration numbers and make of lorries in Connacht and not a few from outside as well.
  • But his critics, and they were not a few, said privately that the benevolent Burke image would not last.
  • I don't understand why not a few on the right feel the need to defend the sorts of people who make off with millions after failing miserably in their job.
  • This sentiment is shared by not a few, many of whom are committed to the belief that country comes first.
  • One could make the case that over the course of history Europe has produced most of the great scientific insights and not a few of the major inventions.
  • How you feel about this will color your judgment of the work but won't decrease your enjoyment of the good parts, of which there are not a few.
  • And not a few of Le Va's recent drawings are downright epic in scale and symbolic reach.
  • Rodger's book is a veritable feast of facts (and not a few prejudices), culled from a vast range of sources and laced with some salty anecdotes.
8

quite a few

a fairly large number: quite a few people got the wrong impression
More example sentences
  • You need quite a few to make the juice for this jelly, and it is much easier to do if you have a blender or food processor.
  • It means that I have to buy everybody presents, and not get anything back from quite a few.
  • I explained quite a few more times but eventually he just shut his window and took no notice.
  • There are others, of course, quite a few of them, but it'd be boring to list them all.
  • He admits that quite a few very experienced climbers have died on the West Ridge route.
  • Yes quite a few, it's one of the things about living in London or any big city I guess.
  • Branson understands that quite a few of us harbour a desire to rise above the multitude.
  • He has been able to find sufficient time to create quite a few items during his free time.
  • Sligo has been waiting for quite a few things for a long time and now two of them come together.
  • I am not sure I have a hero as such, but there are quite a few figures that I admire.
9

some few

some but not many.
Example sentences
  • This is because some few hundred vegetable, fruit and grocery vendors set up shop here from the wee hours (as they have been doing for over two decades) and by residents' consensus, the leftover wares of the day are left behind.
  • Remember how long the regime for paying for hospital treatment lasted when it affected the whole population - some few months - until everyone knew someone that had been asked to pay and decided that it was not acceptable.
  • I see no sign of let up - some few deserters - plenty tired of war, but the masses determined to fight it out.
  • We like the Nigerians, but we want some few Americans or British, to help them out and ensure the stability of our country.
  • I unreservedly apologise on behalf of brother priests and religious [members of the church community] for the hurt that has been done by some few of our number.
  • Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.
  • Despite these well-documented stories, there are still some few people who cling to the small hope that they can have a ‘normal life’ - as they believe it.
  • I was with your husband just some few hours ago and he told me about the mealie meal issue you were discussing early this morning.
  • In some few principles, or perhaps in one simple principle, they all united.
  • There are some few Englishmen who treat ignorant public opinion with the contempt that it deserves - and I am one of them.

Origin

Old English fēawe, fēawa, of Germanic origin; related to Old High German fao, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin paucus and Greek pauros 'small'.

More

  • The ancient root of few is shared by Latin paucus ‘small’, which gives us the English word paucity (Late Middle English). The name the Few for the RAF pilots who took part in the Battle of Britain in 1940 comes from a speech by Winston Churchill in August of that year: ‘Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.’

Words that rhyme with few

accrue, adieu, ado, anew, Anjou, aperçu, askew, ballyhoo, bamboo, bedew, bestrew, billet-doux, blew, blue, boo, boohoo, brew, buckaroo, canoe, chew, clew, clou, clue, cock-a-doodle-doo, cockatoo, construe, coo, Corfu, coup, crew, Crewe, cru, cue, déjà vu, derring-do, dew, didgeridoo, do, drew, due, endue, ensue, eschew, feu, flew, flu, flue, foreknew, glue, gnu, goo, grew, halloo, hereto, hew, Hindu, hitherto, how-do-you-do, hue, Hugh, hullabaloo, imbrue, imbue, jackaroo, Jew, kangaroo, Karroo, Kathmandu, kazoo, Kiangsu, knew, Kru, K2, kung fu, Lahu, Lanzhou, Lao-tzu, lasso, lieu, loo, Lou, Manchu, mangetout, mew, misconstrue, miscue, moo, moue, mu, nardoo, new, non-U, nu, ooh, outdo, outflew, outgrew, peekaboo, Peru, pew, plew, Poitou, pooh, pooh-pooh, potoroo, pursue, queue, revue, roo, roux, rue, Selous, set-to, shampoo, shih-tzu, shoe, shoo, shrew, Sioux, skean dhu, skew, skidoo, slew, smew, snafu, sou, spew, sprue, stew, strew, subdue, sue, switcheroo, taboo, tattoo, thereto, thew, threw, thro, through, thru, tickety-boo, Timbuktu, tiramisu, to, to-do, too, toodle-oo, true, true-blue, tu-whit tu-whoo, two, vendue, view, vindaloo, virtu, wahoo, wallaroo, Waterloo, well-to-do, whereto, whew, who, withdrew, woo, Wu, yew, you, zoo

For editors and proofreaders

Line breaks: few

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