few
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
How often you will meet it
Rank 214 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 107,751 times across 155,370 chapters — 0.051% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 500 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
adjective
- a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number a few weeks agoa few more wagons than usual
noun
- a small elite group it was designed for the discriminating few
few in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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The painter considered for a few moments.
The Picture of Dorian Gray · Oscar Wilde · Chapter 1
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Stage directions are purposely simplified and few abbreviations used.
The White Christmas and other Merry · Walter Ben Hare · Chapter 1
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A few minutes later Arch was loping back up the river road.
The Heart of the Hills · John, Jr. Fox · Chapter 1
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But until within a few weeks ago she herself had had no idea of the kind.
Christian's Mistake · Dinah Maria Mulock Craik · Chapter 1
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A few days before a famous speaker had given an address on an ethical subject at Yale.
The Courage of the Commonplace · Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews · Chapter 1