fewfew /fjuː/ ●●● S1 W1 determiner, pronoun, adjective (comparative fewer, superlative fewest) 
I have to buy a few things at the supermarket. Pam called to say she’s going to be a few minutes late. There were a few people sitting at the back of the hall. There are a few more things I’d like to discuss.few of I’ve read a few of her books. I could suggest many different methods, but anyway, here are just a few. There are only a very few (=not many) exceptions.the last/next few The office has been closed for the last few days.every few days/weeks etc The plants need to be watered every few days.the/somebody’s few days/weeks etc She had enjoyed her few days in Monaco.2 quite a few/a good few/not a few a fairly large number of things or people: She must have cooked a good few dinners over the years.few of There were hundreds of protesters, not a few of whom were women.3not many or hardly any people or things OPP many: low-paid jobs that few people want Many people expressed concern, but few were willing to help. The team that makes the fewest mistakes usually wins.few of Very few of the staff come from the local area. Mr Wingate was full of explanations, but precious few (=hardly any) of them made sense.the few The cathedral was one of the few buildings not destroyed in the war. This hospital is one of the few that are equipped to provide transplant surgery.somebody’s few belongings/friends etc I gathered together my few possessions.4 no fewer than used to emphasize that a number is large: I tried to contact him no fewer than ten times.5 as few as 5/10 etc used to emphasize how surprisingly small a number is: Sometimes as few as 20 out of 500 or more candidates succeed in passing all the tests.6 to name/mention but a few used when you are mentioning only a small number of people or things as examples of a large group: This is a feature of languages such as Arabic, Spanish and Portuguese, to name but a few.7 the (privileged/chosen) few the small number of people who are treated better than others and have special advantages: Such information is made available only to the chosen few. The needs of the many have been ignored – instead, the priority has been to bring benefits only to the few.8 be few and far between to be rare: Jobs are few and far between at the moment.9 have had a few (too many) informal to have drunk too much alcohol: He looks as if he’s had a few!GRAMMAR: Comparisona few• A few means ‘a small number, for example two or three people or things’.• You use a few before plural nouns: · A few people were waiting.· He called me a few days later.• You say a few of the: · A few of the people were getting annoyed. ✗Don’t say: A few of people were getting annoyed.• You say a few of my/her/his etc or a few of them/us/you: · A few of my friends came too.· A few of us left early.few• Few means ‘not many or hardly any’. It emphasizes how small the number is.• In formal English, you use few before plural nouns, without ‘a’: · Few people knew he was ill.• In everyday English, people usually say not many instead: · Not many people knew he was ill.
WORD ORIGINfew
Origin:
Old English feawaLongman Language Activatora small number of people or things
a small number of people, things, places etc: · Most of the trees were destroyed by the fire, but a few survived.a few people/days/things etc: · She's gone to stay with her father for a few days.· Can I borrow a few dollars until I get paid?· I invited a few friends around on Saturday night.a few of (=a small number from a larger group): · Sean left the gate open and a few of the cows got out.
formal a few people, things, places etc, especially when they are part of a much bigger number: · Hundreds of people begin the training programme, but only a small number complete it successfully.a small number of: · Only a small number of people still speak Gaelic.· The new system is being tested in a small number of schools.· A relatively small number of industrially advanced countries control the world economy.
a smaller number than you expected or wanted: · "Were there many people at the show?" "No, not many."not many people/places etc: · There weren't many people at the party, but we still had a good time.· Not many restaurants stay open after midnight.not many of: · I think I'm quite a good cook but not many of my friends agree with me.
spoken a small number of people or things: · "Do you have any Bob Dylan albums?" "Yes, one or two."one or two people/places/questions etc: · We've had one or two problems with the car but nothing serious.· There are one or two things I'd like to ask you about.one or two of: · I only know the names of one or two of the new students.
especially spoken two, or a small number: · "How many drinks did you have?" "Just a couple."a couple of: · A couple of kids were playing in the street.· I saw her a couple of days ago.
a very small number of people or things, especially when this number is disappointing or surprising: · We offer a gym for our employees but only a handful ever use it.a handful of: · Only a handful of artists in Britain can make a living from painting.· A handful of people stayed after the concert to help clear the chairs away.
a small group of people or things from within a larger group, usually forming much less than half of the larger group: a minority of: · Only a minority of union members voted in favour of continuing the strike.a small/tiny etc minority: · Joyce is among the tiny minority of arthritis sufferers who experience these symptoms.· Every year more than three hundred students enter this program but only a small minority will go on to become lawyers.
if something is sparse , there are only very small amounts of it, especially spread over a large area: · sparse traffic· Trees are sparse in this part of the world because of the continuous wind that blows across the plains.
very few a very small number of people, things, places etc: · At that time, few people had televisions.· Very few new restaurants survive for more than two years.few/very few of: · Very few of the students we asked said they were interested in politics.
so few people or things that there are almost none: · There are almost no black students at the college.· My grandmother received almost no education as she was growing up.· Except for a lone seagull flying overhead, there are almost no signs of animal life.
so few people or things that there are almost none - use this especially when this number is disappointing or surprising: · There are supposed to be a lot of teachers at the conference, but I've met hardly any.hardly/scarcely any people/things/places etc: · Although it was Monday morning there were hardly any people around.· He enjoyed his work even though he made scarcely any money.hardly anyone: · We sent out over a hundred invitations but hardly anyone came.hardly any/scarcely any of: · Scarcely any of the private schools replied to the researcher's questionnaire.
spoken say this to emphasize that there is only a very small number of people, things, times when something happens etc: · I can count the number of times my son's called me on one hand.· Ten years ago, you could count the Korean restaurants in this city on the fingers of one hand.
when a small number of people or things arrive, leave etc a number of people going in small groups from one place to another, especially from one country to another, over a long period of time: · The flow of immigrants from Bosnia has slowed to a trickle.a trickle of: · Since the rebellion there has been a steady trickle of refugees making their way across the border.
if people or things arrive, leave etc in dribs and drabs , they come or go in small groups and not all together at the same time: · The wedding guests were arriving in dribs and drabs.· He insisted on paying me back in dribs and drabs, five or ten dollars at a time.
if people or things arrive, leave etc in ones or twos , they arrive etc on their own or in very small groups: · There were only about fifty people in the hall, standing around in ones and twos.
not enough also insufficient not enough for what you need. insufficient is much more formal than not enough: · You're not getting enough sleep.not enough (something) to do something: · We didn't win enough games to get to the championship.· No matter how much money they offer me, it wouldn't be enough to make me like the job.· There was insufficient evidence to prove their allegations.not enough (something) for something: · There weren't enough apples for a pie, but they're good for eating.· Officials were worried that supplies would be insufficient for the long winter that was being predicted. not nearly enough/nowhere near enough (=much less than enough): · £1 million is not nearly enough to clean up the water in the bay.· The time they've given us is nowhere near enough.
less than you need or fewer than you need - use this especially when you are criticizing or complaining about something: · Some churches are in danger of closing because there are too few priests.· There is too little cooperation between the opposing parties to get anything done in government.too little/few to do something: · There's too little time to do everything.· There were some police officers there, but too few to control the crowd.far too little/few (=much too little or few): · Most of the students explained far too little about their research methods.
if something is scarce , there is not enough of it, so it is very difficult to get or buy: · During the war, things like clothes and shoes were scarce.· Cheap, clean hotel rooms are scarce in this city, especially in the summer.
an amount of something that is inadequate is not enough for a particular purpose: · The state pension is wholly inadequate -- no one can live on £50 a week.· Inadequate lighting made it difficult to continue the work after dinner.inadequate to do something: · The amount of fertilizer used was inadequate to ensure a good harvest.
formal not enough: · The bank charged me for having insufficient funds in my account.· There has been insufficient rainfall over the past two years, and farmers are having trouble.insufficient to do something: · The data we have is insufficient to draw any conclusions.
if a product is in short supply people cannot buy or get enough of it: · Health workers reported that medicines and basic equipment were in short supply.· The unemployment rate was at 2.5%, and talented job seekers were in short supply.
if there is a lack of something there is not enough of it, or none at all: · Fernando's eyes were red through lack of sleep.· It's lack of confidence, not lack of ability, that makes most people fail.· They threw the case out of court because of a lack of evidence.
if time or money is short , there is not as much of it as you would like: · Money's a little short this month -- we'd better be careful about spending.· The military authorities considered that the need for action was great, and time was short.
a large number of things or people · I was surprised so few people were at the concert - I thought there'd be a lot there.a lot of · A lot of tourists visit Venice in the summer.· John has lived in a lot of different places.a lot more/fewer/less · I'm sure she has a lot more problems than I have.quite a lot · There were quite a lot of words that I couldn't understand.a whole lot/an awful lot · An awful lot of his customers are unhappy with his work.
informal a lot of people or things: · "Have you gotten any responses to your ad?" "Yeah - lots."lots of: · I've invited lots of people.· She asked lots of questions during the interview.lots and lots of: · They've planted lots and lots of flowers in the back yard.lots more/fewer/less: · We get lots more people in the bar on Fridays.
use this especially in questions and negative sentences. Many is also used in positive sentences in written English and in formal spoken English.: many questions/people/cars/thoughts etc: · Did you get many Christmas cards this year?· I don't know many people here, do you?not many: · Not many people survived the crash.so many: · There were so many people at the party, I never even saw Will.too many: · They've got too many rules for me to remember them all.many of (=many among a large number of people or things): · Many of the paintings burned, but the most valuable ones were saved.for many years: · She worked as a reporter with CBS news for many years.in many ways/places/cases etc: · There will be rain in many parts of the country tonight.many more/fewer/less: · We've had many fewer complaints since Doug took over the department.the many: · The report hardly mentions the many patients who have benefited from the treatment.a good many: · A good many scientists were opposed to the use of the bomb.many a person/place/thing: · I've spent many a happy morning fishing from this spot.
a lot of a particular type of person or thing - used especially in newspapers and official reports: · Police seized a large number of weapons.· Large numbers of demonstrators were arrested during today's protest march.
also loads especially British, /masses British informal a lot of people or things: · "How many strawberries did you pick?" "Masses!"tons of: · You can borrow one of my books if you want - I have tons of them.· The beach was really crowded - there were loads of people from all over Europe.loads and loads/tons and tons etc: · There were loads and loads of empty seats at the game - I was kind of surprised.
American informal a lot of people or things: · "Do you have any markers I could borrow?" "I've got a bunch - what colors do you need?"a bunch of: · Rita finally showed up with a bunch of her friends.· I went to a bunch of different stores but I couldn't find a coat I liked.a whole bunch: · A whole bunch of us are going to the beach - you want to come along?
a large number of people, things etc but not usually more than a hundred: · At least five people died and dozens more were injured in a gas explosion just outside Paris.dozens of: · Since we put the advertisement in the paper we've had dozens of phone calls.· Baldwin was the author of six novels, four plays and dozens of essays and poems.dozens and dozens: · The women see dozens and dozens of movies a year.
formal many: · The same problem has occurred before on numerous occasions.· Numerous books and movies have dealt with the issue of wife abuse.too numerous to list/mention/name etc (=so many that you cannot say all of them): · I want to thank all the people, too numerous to mention, who've helped me win this election.
a large number of things or people, especially when this is impressive or surprising: · AIDS can indirectly result in a host of other illnesses.· Since he was elected, the president has been faced with a host of difficult problems.a whole host of: · Their newest compact model has a whole host of exciting new features.
a fairly large number of people, things etc: · He's been working at the company for quite a few years.· There have been quite a few accidents on this stretch of road.· "How many people are coming to the party?" "Oh, quite a few."quite a few of: · She knows quite a few of the people who work at the hospital.
especially American a large number of ideas, opinions, suggestions etc: · The President has a raft of new proposals for dealing with inner city decay.a whole raft of: · By the end of the meeting we had a whole raft of new ideas for expansion.
: multi-coloured/multi-national/multi-storey/multi-racial/multi-purpose/multi-million dollar etc having or involving many colours, countries etc: · My new office is in a multi-storey building.· The company is a multi-national corporation, which has branches all over the world.· Russia has moved from a one-party dictatorship to a multi-party system of government.
: multiple injuries/wounds/burns/fractures in many parts of the body: · She suffered multiple injuries after jumping out of a fifth floor window.· Lauda was pulled from his blazing car with multiple burns.
some, but not a large number a number of people or things, but not a large number - use this when you are not saying exactly what the number is: · There were some children playing in the street.· "Have we got any biscuits?" "Yes, I've just bought some."some of: · Come over here and meet some of my friends.some more: · I've got some more photos of her upstairs.some other: · There are some other reasons as well as those I have mentioned.
a small number of people, things etc: · "Are there any chocolates left?" "Only a few."· They went to China a few years ago.· We know a few people who work in advertising.a few of: · I'm going to the club with a few of my friends.
more than a few people or things, but not a large number: · The President visited several states on his tour.· We've had several meetings, but nothing has been agreed.· She's been to Japan several times.several of: · I've read several of his books and they're really good.· Several of the islands have beautiful beaches.
several: · A number of people said they had seen the stolen van earlier in the day.· We have received a number of complaints about last night's programme.· A number of her ideas were very good indeed.
informal a very small number but at least two: · I'd just like to ask you a couple of questions before you go.· Those baskets are nice, and they only cost a couple of quid.· There wasn't much mail this morning - just a couple of bills.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY I have to buy a few things at the supermarket. Pam called to say she’s going to be a few minutes late. There were a few people sitting at the back of the hall. There are a few more things I’d like to discuss. I could suggest many different methods, but anyway, here are just a few. There are only a very few (=not many) exceptions. The office has been closed for the last few days. The plants need to be watered every few days. She had enjoyed her few days in Monaco. Very few of the staff come from the local area. Mr Wingate was full of explanations, but precious few (=hardly any) of them made sense. The cathedral was one of the few buildings not destroyed in the war. This hospital is one of the few that are equipped to provide transplant surgery. I gathered together my few possessions.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES A few weeks from now I’ll be in Venice. The universities have shown few if any signs of a willingness to change. Comparatively few books have been written on the subject. Re-apply your sunscreen every two hours. There were traffic lights every ten yards. I got a few extra in case anyone else decides to come. I’ll be making $400 extra a month. I only read the first two chapters of the book. It rained during the first few days of the trip. It’s time someone told him a few home truths. Only the privileged few can afford private education. Honorary degrees are handed out to a select few.
I have to buy a few things at the supermarket. Pam called to say she’s going to be a few minutes late. There were a few people sitting at the back of the hall. There are a few more things I’d like to discuss. I could suggest many different methods, but anyway, here are just a few. There are only a very few (=not many) exceptions. The office has been closed for the last few days. The plants need to be watered every few days. She had enjoyed her few days in Monaco. Very few of the staff come from the local area. Mr Wingate was full of explanations, but precious few (=hardly any) of them made sense. The cathedral was one of the few buildings not destroyed in the war. This hospital is one of the few that are equipped to provide transplant surgery. I gathered together my few possessions. A few weeks from now I’ll be in Venice. The universities have shown few if any signs of a willingness to change. Comparatively few books have been written on the subject. Re-apply your sunscreen every two hours. There were traffic lights every ten yards. I got a few extra in case anyone else decides to come. I’ll be making $400 extra a month. I only read the first two chapters of the book. It rained during the first few days of the trip. It’s time someone told him a few home truths. (=used when you are only giving a few examples)· She had taken a number of classes, including photography, art, and pottery, to mention but a few.
Only the privileged few can afford private education. Honorary degrees are handed out to a select few.PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► to name/mention but a few► quite a few/a good few/not a fewPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► the chosen few► give somebody time/a few weeks/all day etc► give or take a few minutes/a penny/a mile etc► manage a few words/a smile etc► to name but a few/a handful/three etc► some little/few something► be no/few/not many takers► in 10 days’/five years’/a few minutes’ etc time► say a word/say a few words
1[no comparative] a small number of things or peoplea few- A decade ago this was Checkpoint Charlie, one of the few gaps in an otherwise impenetrable barrier a hundred miles long.
- But then Jeffries said that that article was one of the few that had examined his ideas on the merits.
- Date palms are one of the few fruit trees that can be safely transplanted at full maturity.
- Hundreds of people could be seen walking along the roadside or waiting patiently for the few overcrowded buses.
- I had underlined the few shady connections which made it into the open.
- Stirling sensibly argued that it was illogical to form two new battalions when the few men he required were being denied him.
- The major drawback for all immigrant firms has been the difficulty in recruiting the few highly skilled key workers essential to production.
- Good jobs are few and far between these days.
- The schools are crowded, and good teachers are few and far between.
- Toys were few and far between, but the children invented games and played together.
- But for all this effort, meaningful accomplishments are few and far between.
- Deaf postgraduates, who are few and far between, have little chance of taking a higher degree.
- Facilities like the recently opened Russell Cairns Unit in Oxford are few and far between.
- Opportunities for young parents to socialize with each other are few and far between these days.
- Rough edges are few and far between.
- Sanatorium beds were few and far between, and often had to be obtained through influence.
- Shop said that all its stores were open but that customers were few and far between.
- The instances of this happening are few and far between.
- Ralph Nader may have had a few, but then again far, far too few to mention.
- I tried to contact him no fewer than ten times.
- But if every worker made pins separately, the factory might make as few as 10 or at the most 200.
- Infection can result from ingestion of as few as 10 cysts.
- The number of bodies that will be left standing is unclear but could be as few as 10.
- Meyer had a few choice words for federal bureaucrats after an error listed him as deceased.
- And he also had a few choice words about my means of protecting myself.
- Or has rapper Puff been on the blower from New York with a few choice words?
- In time she came to know a good many faces, but none of them were people.
- It had been a good few years.
- It is likely that a good many valuable stones were destroyed in this way because Pliny was muddling up hardness and toughness.
- It was no accident that a good many towns were sited on the borderline between arable farming and pastoral regions.
- Overall, it took a good many years for the primaries to wrest control from the bosses.
- She solved some problems, but she created a good few more-many of which Britain is still dealing with today.
- There are a good many variables that may intervene in just this manner.
- We shared this house all the years of my childhood, and a good many summers afterward.
- He was a man of few words except when he mounted the stage to recite his poetry.
- Bill Templeman was a man of few words.
- Blitherdick, usually a man of few words, had become lachrymose about Blenkinsop's enjoyment of a good wine.
- He had a clear scientific mind but was self-effacing, modest, and a man of few words.
- He was a man of few words but many graphic gestures.
- He was a man of few words in any case, Maggie noted.
- I am therefore a man of few words and I have been very brief throughout my professional career.
- There are precious few seats inside the court room.
- At the moment there is precious little.
- Eight voices then, and precious little else.
- Food shopping takes time, a commodity of which most of us have precious little.
- From which it follows that many will choose precious little attachment.
- I had no answers and precious little consolation to offer him to mitigate the facts.
- Once the polarization occurs, there is precious little Mrs Clinton can do about it.
- She had to find some other way to save Angel's precious little life, and find it quickly.
- There was precious little to learn.
- A better day today, Miss Lavant wrote in her diary, quite a bit of sunshine.
- By no means, Watson; even now quite a few scientists continue to doubt.
- I lived quite a lot of my early childhood at the Thompsons' house behind a shop on Harehills Parade.
- Obviously, you have to wear quite a lot of protective clothing to minimise the risk of getting injured.
- Over 296 pages, Fallows cites quite a few.
- The man looks prosperous, like quite a few men.
- There's quite a bit of noise coming from the kitchens.
- There has been quite a lot of talk recently about adding enzymes to help the carp digest our sophisticated carp baits.
- Clothes, sleeping bags, spare canvas, all were hung up or spread out to catch a few rays of sunshine.
- Bill Templeman was a man of few words.
- Blitherdick, usually a man of few words, had become lachrymose about Blenkinsop's enjoyment of a good wine.
- He had a clear scientific mind but was self-effacing, modest, and a man of few words.
- He was a man of few words but many graphic gestures.
- He was a man of few words in any case, Maggie noted.
- I am therefore a man of few words and I have been very brief throughout my professional career.
I have to buy a few things at the supermarket. Pam called to say she’s going to be a few minutes late. There were a few people sitting at the back of the hall. There are a few more things I’d like to discuss.few of I’ve read a few of her books. I could suggest many different methods, but anyway, here are just a few. There are only a very few (=not many) exceptions.the last/next few The office has been closed for the last few days.every few days/weeks etc The plants need to be watered every few days.the/somebody’s few days/weeks etc She had enjoyed her few days in Monaco.2 quite a few/a good few/not a few a fairly large number of things or people: She must have cooked a good few dinners over the years.few of There were hundreds of protesters, not a few of whom were women.3not many or hardly any people or things OPP many: low-paid jobs that few people want Many people expressed concern, but few were willing to help. The team that makes the fewest mistakes usually wins.few of Very few of the staff come from the local area. Mr Wingate was full of explanations, but precious few (=hardly any) of them made sense.the few The cathedral was one of the few buildings not destroyed in the war. This hospital is one of the few that are equipped to provide transplant surgery.somebody’s few belongings/friends etc I gathered together my few possessions.4 no fewer than used to emphasize that a number is large: I tried to contact him no fewer than ten times.5 as few as 5/10 etc used to emphasize how surprisingly small a number is: Sometimes as few as 20 out of 500 or more candidates succeed in passing all the tests.6 to name/mention but a few used when you are mentioning only a small number of people or things as examples of a large group: This is a feature of languages such as Arabic, Spanish and Portuguese, to name but a few.7 the (privileged/chosen) few the small number of people who are treated better than others and have special advantages: Such information is made available only to the chosen few. The needs of the many have been ignored – instead, the priority has been to bring benefits only to the few.8 be few and far between to be rare: Jobs are few and far between at the moment.9 have had a few (too many) informal to have drunk too much alcohol: He looks as if he’s had a few!GRAMMAR: Comparisona few• A few means ‘a small number, for example two or three people or things’.• You use a few before plural nouns: · A few people were waiting.· He called me a few days later.• You say a few of the: · A few of the people were getting annoyed. ✗Don’t say: A few of people were getting annoyed.• You say a few of my/her/his etc or a few of them/us/you: · A few of my friends came too.· A few of us left early.few• Few means ‘not many or hardly any’. It emphasizes how small the number is.• In formal English, you use few before plural nouns, without ‘a’: · Few people knew he was ill.• In everyday English, people usually say not many instead: · Not many people knew he was ill.- Militant Tendency
- militarily
- militarism
- militarist
- militaristic
- militarized
- military
- Military Academy
- Military Cross
- military police
- military service
- militate
- militia
- militiaman
- milk
- milk chocolate
- milk churn
- Milk Duds
- milk float
- milking
- milking machine
- milking parlour
- milkmaid
- milkman
- milk of magnesia