Big vs. Little: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on September 30, 2023
"Big" refers to large size, amount, or degree, while "little" denotes small size, amount, or degree.
Key Differences
"Big" and "little" are straightforward adjectives that refer to the size of an object, amount, or degree. "Big" is used to describe something that is large in size, extent, or amount compared to others of its kind, emphasizing magnitude or dimension. On the contrary, "little" is used to depict something small in size, amount, or degree, suggesting reduced dimensions or quantity.
Both terms, "big" and "little," can be utilized to describe physical dimensions of objects, like a big mountain or a little stone, expressing the comparison of their sizes in a literal sense. Additionally, they can denote the extent or amount of non-physical entities, such as big ideas or little interest, serving to contrast the magnitude or significance of abstract concepts.
These adjectives can also express relative importance or significance. A "big" decision is one with significant consequences, whereas a "little" mistake may have minor implications. It’s about the impact or the weight that the described object, action, or situation carries. So, "big" and "little" work beyond mere physical measurements, indicating the level of importance or influence.
In a broader sense, "big" can also imply adulthood or maturity, as in “big brother,” contrasting with "little" depicting youth or immaturity, as in “little sister.” It indicates the comparative age or maturity level of individuals, symbolizing their development or growth stages. Here, "big" and "little" function metaphorically to represent different life stages or relative ages.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Large in size, amount, or degree.
Small in size, amount, or degree.
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Application
Used to describe physical and non-physical entities.
Used to describe physical and non-physical entities.
Relative Importance
Denotes greater importance or significance.
Implies lesser importance or significance.
Age Connotation
May imply adulthood or maturity.
May suggest youth or immaturity.
Measurements
Represents larger measurements or quantities.
Represents smaller measurements or quantities.
Big and Little Definitions
Big
Mature or grown-up.
He’s a big boy now and can dress himself.
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Little
Small in size or amount.
She has a little puppy.
Big
Generous or abundant.
He has a big heart and always helps others.
Little
Young or immature.
He is still a little child.
Big
Intense or severe.
We are in big trouble.
Little
Of minor importance or significance.
It’s just a little problem, nothing to worry about.
Big
Of considerable size, number, quantity, magnitude, or extent; large.
Little
Expressing affection or diminution.
Let me give you a little kiss.
Big
Having great strength or force
A big wind.
In a big rage.
Little
Short in duration or distance.
The store is a little way down the road.
Big
Of great significance; momentous
A big decision.
A big victory.
Little
Small in size
A little dining room.
Big
Mature or grown-up
Big enough to take the bus by herself.
Little
Small in quantity or extent
A little money.
A little work on the side.
Big
Older or eldest. Used especially of a sibling
My big brother is leaving for college next week.
Little
Short in extent or duration; brief
There is little time left.
Big
Filled up; brimming over
Felt big with love.
Little
Unimportant; trivial
A little matter.
Big
Bountiful; generous
Had a big heart.
Little
Narrow; petty
Mean little comments.
A little mind consumed with trivia.
Big
Pregnant
Big with child.
Little
Having scant power or influence; of minor status
Just a little clerk in the records office.
Big
Having or exercising considerable authority, control, or influence
A big official.
A big chief.
Little
Being at an early stage of growth; young
A little child.
Big
Conspicuous in position, wealth, or importance; prominent
A big figure in the peace movement.
Little
Younger or youngest. Used especially of a sibling
My little brother is leaving for college next week.
Big
Loud and firm; resounding
A big voice.
Little
Not much; scarcely
Works long hours, sleeping little.
Big
(Informal) Widely liked, used, or practiced; popular
"The Minneapolis indie-rock band was big in the blogosphere, beloved by hipsters, and unknown to pretty much everyone else" (Robert Levine).
Little
Not in the least; not at all
They little expected such a generous gift.
Big
(Informal) Self-important; cocky
You're too big for your own good.
Little
A small quantity or amount
Give me a little.
Big
In a pretentious or boastful way
Talked big about the new job.
Little
Something much less than all
I know little of their history.
Big
With considerable success
Made it big with their recent best-selling album.
Little
A short distance or time
A little down the road.
Waited a little.
Big
In a thorough or unmistakable way; emphatically
Failed big at the box office.
Little
Small in size.
This is a little table.
Big
Of great size, large.
Elephants are big animals, and they eat a lot.
Little
Insignificant, trivial.
It's of little importance.
Big
(informal) Fat.
Gosh, she is big!
Little
(offensive) Used to belittle a person.
Listen up, you little shit.
Big
Large with young; pregnant; swelling; ready to give birth or produce.
She was big with child.
Little
Very young.
Did he tell you any embarrassing stories about when she was little?
That's the biggest little boy I've ever seen.
Big
(informal) Well-endowed, possessing large breasts in the case of a woman or a large penis in the case of a man.
Whoa, Nadia has gotten pretty big since she hit puberty.
Little
(of a sibling) Younger.
This is my little sister.
Big
(informal) Adult; (of a child) older.
Kids should get help from big people if they want to use the kitchen.
We were just playing, and then some big kids came and chased us away.
She did it all on her own like a big girl.
Little
(often capitalized) Used with the name of a place, especially of a country or its capital, to denote a neighborhood whose residents or storekeepers are from that place.
Big
Old, mature. Used to imply that somebody is too old for something, or acting immaturely.
Little
(derogatory) To imply that the inhabitants of the place have an insular attitude and are hostile to those they perceive as foreign.
Big
.informal Mature, conscientious, principled; generous.
That's very big of you; thank you!
I tried to be the bigger person and just let it go, but I couldn't help myself.
Little
Having few members.
Little herd
Big
(informal) Important or significant.
What's so big about that? I do it all the time.
Little
Operating on a small scale.
Little Steel (smaller steel companies, as contrasted with Big Steel)
Little Science (science performed by individuals or small teams, as contrasted with Big Science)
Big
Popular.
That style is very big right now in Europe, especially among teenagers.
Little
Short in duration; brief.
I feel better after my little sleep.
Big
(of a city) Populous.
Little
Small in extent of views or sympathies; narrow; shallow; contracted; mean; illiberal; ungenerous.
Big
(informal) Used as an intensifier, especially of negative-valence nouns
You are a big liar.
Why are you in such a big hurry?
Little
Not much.
This is a little known fact.
She spoke little and listened less.
We slept very little last night.
Big
Operating on a large scale, especially if therefore having undue or sinister influence.
There were concerns about the ethics of big pharma.
Big money
Big Tech, Big Steel (large or influential tech or steel companies)
Big Science (science performed by large terms, of large scope, with government or corporate funding)
Little
Not at all.
I was speaking ill of Fred; little did I know that he was right behind me, listening in.
Big
Enthusiastic (about).
I'm not big on the idea, but if you want to go ahead with it, I won't stop you.
Little
Not much, only a little: only a small amount (of).
There is (very) little water left.
We had very little to do.
Big
In a loud manner.
Little
Not much; not a large amount.
Little is known about his early life.
Big
In a boasting manner.
He's always talking big, but he never delivers.
Little
A small amount.
Can I try a little of that sauce?
Little did he do to make me comfortable.
If you want some cake, there's a little in the refrigerator
Many littles make a mickle. (Scottish proverb)
Big
In a large amount or to a large extent.
He won big betting on the croquet championship.
Little
A child; particularly an infant.
Big
On a large scale, expansively.
You've got to think big to succeed at Amalgamated Plumbing.
Little
A newly initiated member of a sorority, who is mentored by a big.
Big
Hard.
He hit him big and the guy just crumpled.
Little
The participant in ageplay who acts out the younger role.
Big
An important or powerful person; a celebrity; a big name.
Little
(countable) One who has mentally age regressed to a childlike state.
Big
(in the plural) The big leagues, big time.
Little
Small in size or extent; not big; diminutive; - opposed to big or large; as, a little body; a little animal; a little piece of ground; a little hill; a little distance; a little child.
He sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
Big
(university slang) A initiated member of a sorority who acts as a mentor to a new member (the little).
Little
Short in duration; brief; as, a little sleep.
Best him enough: after a little time,I'll beat him too.
Big
(BDSM) The participant in ageplay who acts out the older role.
Little
Small in quantity or amount; not much; as, a little food; a little air or water.
Conceited of their little wisdoms, and doting upon their own fancies.
Big
One or more kinds of barley, especially six-rowed barley.
Little
Small in dignity, power, or importance; not great; insignificant; contemptible.
When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes?
Big
To inhabit; occupy.
Little
Small in force or efficiency; not strong; weak; slight; inconsiderable; as, little attention or exertion;little effort; little care or diligence.
By sad experiment I knowHow little weight my words with thee can find.
Big
To locate oneself.
Little
Small in extent of views or sympathies; narrow; shallow; contracted; mean; illiberal; ungenerous.
The long-necked geese of the world that are ever hissing dispraise,Because their natures are little.
The men, and the women, and the little ones.
Big
To build; erect; fashion.
Little
That which is little; a small quantity, amount, space, or the like.
Much was in little writ.
There are many expressions, which carrying with them no clear ideas, are like to remove but little of my ignorance.
Big
To dwell; have a dwelling.
Little
A small degree or scale; miniature.
A little, to or in a small degree; to a limited extent; somewhat; for a short time. " Stay a little."
The painter flattered her a little.
Big
Having largeness of size; of much bulk or magnitude; of great size; large.
Little
In a small quantity or degree; not much; slightly; somewhat; - often with a preceding it.
Big
Great with young; pregnant; swelling; ready to give birth or produce; - often figuratively.
[Day] big with the fate of Cato and of Rome.
Little
A small amount or duration;
He accepted the little they gave him
Big
Having greatness, fullness, importance, inflation, distention, etc., whether in a good or a bad sense; as, a big heart; a big voice; big looks; to look big. As applied to looks, it indicates haughtiness or pride.
God hath not in heaven a bigger argument.
I talked big to them at first.
Little
Limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent;
A little dining room
A little house
A small car
A little (or small) group
A small voice
Big
Barley, especially the hardy four-rowed kind.
"Bear interchanges in local use, now with barley, now with bigg."
Little
(quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with `a') at least some;
Little rain fell in May
Gave it little thought
Little hope remained
Little time is left
We still have little money
A little hope remained
A little time is left
Big
To build.
Little
Of short duration or distance;
A brief stay in the country
In a little while
It's a little way away
Big
Above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent;
A large city
Set out for the big city
A large sum
A big (or large) barn
A large family
Big businesses
A big expenditure
A large number of newspapers
A big group of scientists
Large areas of the world
Little
Not fully grown;
What a big little boy you are
Small children
Big
Significant;
Graduation was a big day in his life
Little
(informal terms) small and of little importance;
A fiddling sum of money
A footling gesture
Our worries are lilliputian compared with those of countries that are at war
A little (or small) matter
Mickey Mouse regulations
A dispute over niggling details
Limited to petty enterprises
Piffling efforts
Giving a police officer a free meal may be against the law, but it seems to be a picayune infraction
Big
Of very great significance;
Deciding to drop the atom bomb was a very big decision
A momentous event
Little
(of a voice) faint;
A little voice
A still small voice
Big
Conspicuous in position or importance;
A big figure in the movement
Big man on campus
He's very large in financial circles
A prominent citizen
Little
Younger brother or sister;
Little brother
Big
Very intense;
A bad headache
In a big rage
Had a big (or bad) shock
A bad earthquake
A bad storm
Little
Lowercase;
Little a
Small a
E.e.cummings's poetry is written all in minuscule letters
Big
Loud and firm;
A big voice
Big bold piano sounds
Little
Small in a way that arouses feelings (of tenderness or its opposite depending on the context);
A nice little job
Bless your little heart
My dear little mother
A sweet little deal
I'm tired of your petty little schemes
Filthy little tricks
What a nasty little situation
Big
Prodigious;
Big spender
Big eater
Heavy investor
Little
Not much;
He talked little about his family
Big
(of animals) fully developed;
An adult animal
A grown woman
Big
Marked by intense physical force;
A big wind
Big
Feeling self-importance;
Too big for his britches
Had a swelled head
He was swelled with pride
Big
Older brother or sister;
Big sister
Big
Exhibiting self-importance;
Big talk
Big
Generous and understanding and tolerant;
A heart big enough to hold no grudges
That's very big of you to be so forgiving
A large and generous spirit
A large heart
Magnanimous toward his enemies
Big
Given or giving freely;
Was a big tipper
The bounteous goodness of God
Bountiful compliments
A freehanded host
A handsome allowance
Saturday's child is loving and giving
A liberal backer of the arts
A munificent gift
Her fond and openhanded grandfather
Big
In an advanced stage of pregnancy;
Was big with child
Was great with child
Big
Extremely well;
His performance went over big
Big
In a boastful manner;
He talked big all evening
Big
On a grand scale;
Think big
Big
In a major way;
The play failed big at the box office
Big
Large in size or extent.
The big tree overshadowed the smaller plants.
Big
Of great significance or impact.
She had a big role in the project’s success.
FAQs
Is "big" always a positive adjective?
No, "big" can be neutral, positive, or negative, depending on context.
Can "little" refer to amount or degree?
Yes, "little" can denote a small amount or degree, as well as small size.
Is "little" always used to describe physical size?
No, "little" can also describe amount, degree, or significance.
Is "big brother" about the physical size of the brother?
Not necessarily; "big brother" often refers to an older or more mature brother.
Can "big" describe non-physical things like ideas?
Yes, "big" can describe the significance or extent of abstract concepts like ideas.
Can "little" imply a reduced level of importance?
Yes, "little" can indicate that something is of minor importance or significance.
Can "little" denote youth or immaturity?
Yes, "little" can suggest youth, immaturity, or a lesser stage of development.
Can "little" be used to express affection?
Yes, "little" can be used as a term of endearment or to express affectionate diminution.
Does "big" always imply something positive?
No, "big" can imply negative aspects as well, like a big problem.
Can "big" only refer to size?
No, "big" can also refer to amount, degree, importance, or significance.
Can something be both "big" and "little" in different aspects?
Absolutely, something might be big in size but little in importance, for example.
Can "big" be used metaphorically?
Yes, "big" can be used metaphorically to describe importance, maturity, or other abstract concepts.
Can "big" refer to adulthood?
Yes, "big" can metaphorically refer to being grown-up or mature.
Can "big" and "little" be used relatively?
Yes, what is considered big or little can vary depending on what it is being compared to.
Can "little" refer to a short duration?
Yes, "little" can denote a short duration or distance.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
